Forbes Communications Council: How To Prevent A PR Crisis – 20 Comms Leaders Share Their No. 1 Rule

In today’s world, reputations move at the speed of social—and one misstep can trigger a full-blown PR crisis. But the best crisis response starts long before there’s ever a headline.

In my latest Forbes feature, I joined 19 other communications leaders to share one simple rule we each follow to help companies prevent PR crises before they start. The full article, How To Prevent A PR Crisis: 20 Comms Leaders Share Their No. 1 Rule, is packed with perspective-shifting advice on proactive risk management, internal alignment, and building credibility that lasts.

Here’s what I shared:

Prioritize internal alignment before external action.
Most PR crises start when teams move fast, without shared clarity on messaging, values or risk. When everyone’s on the same page, you spot issues early on and build trust that lasts beyond the moment.

At Grounded Growth Studio, this philosophy is foundational:
→ Align internally.
→ Communicate clearly.
→ Build brand resilience.

If you're in a leadership role—founder, marketer, or comms exec—this is a must-read. The insights go far beyond reactive damage control and into building the kind of culture and systems that can handle hard moments with confidence and integrity.

The bottom line:
Crises don’t start in the press—they start in the process. Align your team before the pressure hits, and your brand will be stronger for it.