by Leigh Goessl

Created on: September 04, 2010

The BP Oil Spill that occurred when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in April 2010 was a massive disaster which had terrible widespread repercussions. Many were injured and 11 workers were killed. In addition local economies, tourism and the environment were severely impacted and devastated. Many of the long term effects of the oil spill are unknown.

As a result of the disaster the BP brand suffered as the company tried to recover and repair the vast damage it caused and will permanently be associated with. While the crisis itself was bad, soon to be former CEO Tony Hayward's behavior did not help matters which had further negative impact. Hayward had issues with conducting good crisis management and everyone from politics to the media to the general public had issues with some of his comments and actions.

Such a major crisis is unfortunate, for any business, but one upside to the BP oil spill disaster is business and organizational leaders can look to CEO Hayward's mistakes and perhaps learn from them.

*Identify with the Public

Leaders dealing with crisis need to perform a major balancing act which includes doing what is best to fix the disaster, sustain the business, but also important is to deal with the public. This requires sensitivity and keen insight to the situation. Understanding the devastating effects of the crisis is vital; leaders have to be able to connect and identify with the public and show sensitivity to those impacted. In Hayward's case he made many mistakes in terms of chosen words and personal decision, these kinds of mistakes are major lessons to be learned. As a result he did not resonate with the public.

*Taking Care with Words

Over the course of history verbal gaffes have contributed to the spiral downfall of many leaders. In Hayward's case the words "I want my life back" will likely reverberate in the minds of the public forever and he will permanently be linked to this phrase. This was a very insensitive comment considering 11 people lost their lives and others were injured, lost careers and had severely impacted businesses. This is a vital lesson learned, leaders and those in the public eye in the midst of a disaster should always choose words carefully.

*Attitude

A leader's attitude is critical. Those in charge during a crisis must not come across as aloof or unsympathetic; worse is to display arrogance. In the midst of the oil spill crisis Hayward took a brief reprieve and attended a yachting event back in the United Kingdom.

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