Services

general issues management

All—yes, all—members of the sports world have issues.  Athletes have strengths and weaknesses which interest the media (and are important to prospective teams) and off-field/off-ice problems like anyone else.  Coaches have histories (sometimes unpleasant ones) with specific players or management officials.  Teams and organizations have both internal and external tensions and other “sore spots”.

When handled appropriately, though, an issue can be prevented from developing into a serious problem (or, worse, a crisis).  Issues management is a process of identifying and pro-actively dealing with issues before they intensify.  In some cases, this means actively working to remedy the situation privately, by relying on communications skills to ameliorate internal organization conflicts, for example.  In other cases, this means preparing to deal with issues publicly in an interview or press conference.

Prospect’s issues management process leads to the development of a practical, hands-on guide—an “issues sheet” or “issues book” (depending on the size)—which is developed in conjunction with the sports client or organization.   Prospect continues to work extensively to help athletes, coaches, agents, teams and organizations identify their core issues, and subsequently to construct and prepare appropriate and credible message strategies that will allow them deal with, and communicate effectively about, these issues.