Internal Communication in Times of Crisis - by Alison Arnot (Paperback)

About the Book

Build the strategic and tactical understanding necessary to help you inform, engage and support your internal community through a crisis and advocate for the organization.

Book Synopsis

How can senior leaders leverage internal communication to steer their organizations confidently through crisis?

Internal Communication in Times of Crisis is a strategic, authoritative guide designed for executives responsible for safeguarding organizational reputation and resilience. Author Alison Arnot provides tools and data-driven frameworks to help you lead effective internal communication that supports and empowers employees and accelerates organization recovery.

You'll learn how to:
- Apply strategic models to align communication with crisis objectives and leadership goals
- Utilize expert insights to address diverse crisis scenarios with tailored approaches
- Implement governance practices that prioritize employee safety, support and engagement
- Measure communication impact using data-led evaluation techniques
- And learn from expert insights that demonstrate effective crisis communication in action

Equip your leadership with the frameworks and skills necessary to deliver results, build trust and ensure organizational stability during turbulent times.

Themes include: Crisis communication strategy, internal communication, leadership, governance, employee engagement, data-driven evaluation, organizational resilience

Review Quotes

"

Alison offers clear, actionable insights, helping internal communicators navigate the challenges of crisis communication at every stage - from preparation and response to recovery.
What sets this apart is Alison's 7S framework that starts with people's core needs and expands to support the organisation as the crisis evolves. It's a structured, people-first approach that helps communicators lead with clarity, empathy, and confidence in times of uncertainty. This book is more than a guide; it empowers internal communicators to be strategic, responsive, and resilient when it matters most.

"-- "Nafisa Ali Shafiq, Co-Chair of CIPR Inside, Internal Communications Lead at Yorkshire Housing"

"

Drawing on current and recent writings, Alison's own real-life experiences and interviews with practitioners, she provides a framework for understanding how crises develop inside organisations and ideas on how to respond when the worst happens. The book explores preparation, explains how the internal communicator's audience insight comes into play and works though the stages of an unfolding event.

This beautifully written book is packed full of useful suggestions and ideas which experienced and novice practitioners alike will value.

"-- "Liam Fitzpatrick, Change communications author and advisor"

"

The perfect handbook for anyone trying to understand the role of internal communication in a crisis. The frameworks outlined will help anyone in an organisation navigate a crisis - communication professional or not.
While there is no one size fits all for a crisis, the book captures many of the nuances that need to be considered for leaders when it comes to maintaining relationships with employees.
This book is a great blend of academic theory, practical experience and frameworks you can apply straight away.

"-- "Jenni Field, leadership credibility and organisational communication expert"

"

The practicality of Alison Arnot's approach - backed by deep personal experience - shines through, covering all the key elements of effective crisis comms: from crisis categorisation, internal audience understanding and strategy to content creation, channel selection, leadership communication, internal listening and self-care.

'Internal Communication in Times of Crisis' will be invaluable in encouraging practitioners to think more strategically about the internal elements of their crisis comms, while providing practical, meaningful tools for putting that strategy into action.

"-- "Rod Cartwright, advisor on risk, crisis, reputation and resilience and Founder at Rod Cartwright Consulting"

"A crisis is a crisis, but failing to plan for one is on you. Alison's book is essential for any communication professional ready to take charge and guide their organisation through the darkest moments. With internal communication rightly placed at the heart of crisis response, she presents a serious subject in an engaging and accessible way. What struck me most was the focus on people - the needs of the survivors. Crisis preparation has always proven its worth to me, and Alison shows you how."-- "Monique Zytnik, author of Internal Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, communication strategist, and IABC EMENA Chair"

"Alison has put the spotlight firmly on an often-overlooked part of crisis communication. She carefully brings together her own experiences with the views and thoughts of those involved in crisis response and academic research. This is a vital book that delves into the human impact of crisis through the lens of employees."-- "Amanda Coleman, crisis communication specialist, consultant and author of Crisis Communication Strategies"

"Alison's practical guide to internal communication in times of crisis creates confidence for communication professionals. In a crisis, internal communication is often an afterthought, but Alison's book is full of actionable advice to implement today. The inspirational stories and hints and tips make this an ideal book to help you plan or oversee crisis communication."-- "Rachel Miller, Founder, All Things IC and author of Internal Communication Strategy"

"In the chaos of crisis, it is easy to default messaging focused on external audiences - press conferences, media statements, social media updates, etc. What Internal Communications in Times of Crisis reminds us of is that some of the most critical conversations must first happen inside the organization. Internal audiences are too often an afterthought, yet they are the lifeblood of clarity, consistency, and trust. This book is a must-read for any communicator or leader who understands that employees are not just recipients of information - they can be trusted voices, steady hands, and powerful advocates when they are informed, empowered, and valued. If you are looking to level-up your crisis communications response from the inside out, start here."-- "Benjamin Morgan, M.A. Principal, Centre for Crisis & Risk Communications"

About the Author

Alison Arnot is an award-winning business owner, trainer, consultant and speaker with over 25 years' front-line experience in PR, internal communication and crisis communication. For the past 12 years she has trained others in these disciplines for the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and for clients through her business Catalyst Communications.