Janka Kreißl – Communication in exceptional situations

‘To my knowledge … that means immediately, without delay.’

On the evening when this sentence – and with it the Wall – fell, Janka Kreißl celebrated her 13th birthday. The collapse of a state and its structures and the loss of security and stability have been part of her biographical background ever since. Today, she works precisely where these issues become visible again: in crises, upheavals and exceptional digital situations.

Janka Kreißl – Communication as a management tool

As a partner at Dunkelblau, a crisis communication and crisis management consultancy, Janka Kreißl supports organisations in preparing for crises and in acute situations. She works where certainties end: in crises, upheavals and situations in which words suddenly take on great weight – and decisions have serious consequences.

Her focus is on communication as a leadership and management tool – not as a supporting discipline. Because when information is incomplete, time is pressing and expectations are rising, communication determines whether the ability to act is gained or lost.

A defining example of her current work comes from a completely different environment: Janka Kreißl worked as an officer on cruise ships – in an international, complex environment dominated by men in leadership positions. On board, she was not only responsible for analogue and digital media, but also integrated into strict hierarchies – as part of a complex safety system on which the survival of guests and crew depends in an emergency. In this role, she experienced what it means when there is no time for discussion: in the event of an alarm, clearly defined roles, fixed hierarchies and trained procedures apply. Everyone knows what to do – regardless of their function, age or origin: communication is a prerequisite for safety and coordination.

Today, she applies this experience to organisations on land. Because there, too, an emergency quickly reveals whether roles are clear, decision-making processes work and communication is effective – or whether uncertainty, turf wars and silence exacerbate the situation.

In many of the crises she has dealt with, it is not technology or knowledge that is lacking, but structure:

• Who makes the decisions?
• Who speaks?
• Who keeps track of the big picture?
• And how does a team remain operational over days or weeks?

In her keynotes, Janka Kreißl makes it clear that crises are rarely a single moment. They are a period of time in which orientation must be constantly re-established. She talks about why pretending to be certain often does more harm than good – and why clarity, rhythm and expectation management are crucial. In such situations, communication not only describes the situation, it also influences perception, behaviour and trust – both internally and externally.

Her presentations are aimed at managers, communication and crisis teams who are not interested in theoretical models, but in viable practice. It’s about decisions without completeness, about language with impact, and about the question of what keeps organisations stable when routines no longer work.

Book Janka Kreißl for a keynote speech or workshop on communication in exceptional situations: 1 (704) 804 1054 or janka.kreissl@premium-speakers.com