You may wonder why, in crisis committees, your notes don’t always get passed, your plans aren’t always revealed, and all the updates seem to be going in one specific direction. This is because prior to the start of a conference, some crisis directors plan out the outcomes of their committees in advance. They know more or less how they want to the committee to end, and what challenges they want delegates to overcome along the way. On the other hand, many crisis directors decide along the way how the crisis will go based on delegates’ actions. So how can you, as a delegate, know what the crisis directors are looking for? You merely have to step into their shoes and think like a crisis director!
Each crisis committee has a crisis tree, which is the equivalent of a personal crisis arc, but for the committee as a whole. Crisis directors use crisis trees to plan crisis updates and predict how delegates respond. Thorough, in-depth research will allow you to predict some of the possible crisis updates. By reading the background guide, you can think of your own responses to these updates before they even happen and be ready to respond in committee. For example, if the background guide mentions the specific start date, you can research significant events that occurred near or on that day that relate to your topic. Then, you can brainstorm possible directive ideas or solutions to these crises before hand, so you will not be caught off guard in committee.
Crisis Director’s Arc
Once committee starts, try to use the updates to figure out which path is being taken, and how you can fit your own personal arc into it. Many times, crisis directors will not pass notes that push for plans that have nothing to do with the larger goal of the committee. It’s important that you figure out what this “larger goal” is by noticing the pattern of crisis updates, and somehow use your plans to advance it. When you begin to notice that your plans are not being passed, try to refocus your arc to align more with what is occurring in committee.If you do this, crisis directors are more likely to follow through with your crisis arc.
When actually writing your notes, it’s important that you also “think like a crisis director”. This means baring in mind what crisis directors want to see in notes. In order to do this there are a few areas to keep in mind: time constraints, character, and story.
If you want to increase your chances of getting your notes passed, it’s helpful to illustrate whenever you can and highlighting the key points of your plan. Example illustrations could be of propaganda posters, war plans, or other maps/diagrams. By seeing your illustration, crisis directors will be more likely to recreate your plan in committee because they know exactly how you want it to proceed, and your notes will be easier and faster to read.
Crisis suite in action
A good crisis arc is one that is multi-step. It would help if you were carrying out small actions in your crisis notes that build off one another to create a bigger picture and culminate in one climactic action. Crisis directors don’t like it when delegates deviate from their plan and start sending disjointed notes that have nothing to do with one another. It’s much more interesting and easier for crisis analysts to follow if your notes plot and character. By adding character, you can showcase the research you have done and make notes more engaging for crisis staffers who have to read sometimes hundreds per committee session! Examples of how to do this would add a line or two in the language your character speaks, a signature/famous quote or line form your character, political slogans, and details about your character’s personal life that show in-depth research.
That said, the most flexible crisis delegates get to know their Crisis Director’s style! It’s impossible to predict what any given individual is looking for, so above all it’s important think like your Crisis Director.
