We could point out that an incredible number of events have been cancelled and that supermarkets are running low on toilet paper, disinfectant, and pasta, and now also flour, yeast, and tissues. We could also mention once again that almost all schools have been closed and that staff in supermarkets, pharmacies, hospitals, and care facilities are reaching their breaking point. However, we believe that all of this has already been communicated clearly and repeatedly. Therefore, we will skip the sources for this.
So why this blog post? We thought it was time to address a very important topic in this context: crisis communication. Everywhere you look and listen, you hear about the current crisis that has reached Germany and in which we all currently find ourselves. There is no denying it: the topic of Corona, or Covid-19, has now fully reached Germany and the communications industry as well. Professional crisis communication is an extremely important component in managing a crisis itself. (By the way, we are referring here to the Crisis Communication Guide from the Federal Ministry of the Interior page 3, sentence 1, in case anyone wants to look it up. ;))
In the event of unprepared, flawed, or missing communication from a company during this time, the working atmosphere and staff motivation, as well as the company's image, can suffer. Crises create a high demand for information that must be responded to appropriately. In our opinion, this applies not only to our government but also to every company when communicating with customers and suppliers, as well as when communicating with employees themselves. And that is exactly where we want to start.
#STAYPOSITIVE
But before we begin, we have to get something off our chests. We Pandas see ourselves as very optimistic, positive, and cheerful people, and we would like to emphasize once again that we do not believe a crisis means the end of Germany or the entire world. We remain optimistic and firmly believe that this crisis can be overcome and that we will emerge from it stronger as individuals and as a community. We think this crisis is also an opportunity for us all.
An opportunity to let your creativity run wild and use it to develop new processes, new communication channels, and new solutions for our current problems and challenges, and to emerge from this time with new knowledge. Covid-19 is not only forcing us personally to rethink how we communicate with others, but companies must also now take new or previously unused paths. Now is a good time to question yourself and the way things are—and to grow. So that when our teams can come together in the usual way again, we can set new standards in our collaboration and our life together. As Peter Drucker once said: "The future is not going to be made tomorrow; it is being made today."
SUCCESSFUL CRISIS COMMUNICATION
But what exactly does successful crisis communication look like? Here, the Crisis Communication Guide from the Federal Ministry of the Interior provides many answers on pages 10 and 15. Successful crisis communication is characterized by Speed (active and early), Truthfulness (factual, transparent, and honest), Clarity (concise, simple, straightforward, vivid), and Consistency (uniform, coordinated, and continuous). Governments, organizations, and companies should communicate proactively, factually, and continuously during times of crisis—to every recipient, whether they are a customer, supplier, or member of your own team. After all, every recipient is a stakeholder with equal standing.
Communication—and, above all, strategic, successful, and efficient communication during a crisis—is essential. So far, so good. Most organizations and companies would certainly agree with this immediately, and it usually doesn't pose too much of a problem. Unfortunately, however, one essential aspect is often forgotten: the crisis itself. The virus makes it difficult for many companies to manage all their communication using their own resources, especially while maintaining all the desired attributes (fast, understandable, simple, transparent, etc.). This is why external resources are often sought, or external agencies and companies are brought on board.
CREATIVE COMMUNICATION SOLUTIONS DURING A CRISIS
This is where we come in. We are always here for our clients, ready to support them with their communication, especially their motion design and video content. We provide advice, work with them to build a completely individual video strategy, and produce exciting videos, GIFs, snippets, and much more. But how is all this possible during a crisis, especially now during COVID-19? Should we even continue to offer our film production services? In our opinion: YES! As explained earlier, communication is currently the be-all and end-all. It would be fatal to stop reporting and communicating in general during such a time. If we have companies or clients who want to rely on our help, we see it as our duty to pursue our work, our calling, and our passion—all, of course, by mutual agreement, in compliance with the recommendations of experts and the government, and as safely as possible.
Our clients' success is our greatest motivation. It always has been and always will be. Nevertheless, in the current situation, we must first ensure our own safety before this can be extended to the services we offer. That is why, for example, we moved our employees to home offices some time ago and have reorganized and restructured our internal operations. We believe we have now followed all the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute and are positioned as safely as possible internally under the given circumstances.
Since we want to maintain the ability to communicate, we are working continuously with our clients on creative solutions to offer and carry out our services safely. Our primary goal is to minimize the given risk as much as possible while continuing to be there for our clients. If you are currently facing the difficulty of finding a suitable communication solution, especially in the area of motion design, please do not hesitate to contact us! We are sure to find a creative solution together to help you achieve your communication goals, even in times of crisis!
DIGITAL POST-PRODUCTION
Thanks to our current connectivity and digital solutions, we remain fully operational and always reachable. Even before our restructuring, we made it simple and convenient to review edited films using an online tool. This continues to allow our clients to leave timecode-based comments and feedback, and even add sketches directly onto the video. We also offer our clients the option to connect to our edit suite and watch us live during the editing or color grading of their post-production digitally over our shoulder.
This way, you can follow the progress of your project from your home office. We have also worked with remote grading before, so this is nothing new for us. When it comes to editing, color grading , and the approval of various edit versions, we remain at our clients' disposal with all our expertise and Panda strength. Especially now, pure editing or animation projects, stock footage films, and explainer videos can be carried out safely and contact-free through our post-production department.
CREATIVE PRODUCTION
During our productions and shoots, we prioritize the safety of the entire team, including our clients. We provide safety gear and take the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute, such as those regarding social distancing, very seriously.
As an example of our measures, our team is instructed to maintain at least the recommended minimum distance—or more, if desired—upon first contact with anyone, whether it be another team member, the client, or associated staff. This distance is to be, and will be, maintained throughout the entire production. This allows us to produce a statement or an interview just as we would under "normal" circumstances, skillfully capturing the message and assembling it into a finished video in our post-production suite. This ensures our clients' important content is communicated quickly and professionally.
DETAILED PREPARATIONS
Detailed and precise preparation is essential in times like these. We are in constant contact with our clients well before a shoot to ensure and create the safest, lowest-risk process possible. For example, we work with our clients on digital solutions for reception check-ins to minimize or even eliminate physical contact wherever possible.
We also prioritize pre-production, the planning of the shoot and outdoor locations, such as on a terrace or outside the client's building. This also helps to reduce risk and make the shoot safer. We are continuously working to optimize our servicesas well as our internal processes to adapt to the current situation. With checklists and our creative solutions, we ensure our clients' communication remains effective during this time.