Reputation and Issues Management

Identify and manage issues before they become the crisis.

Reputational issues rarely arrive as crises — they build. This course develops the strategic capability to identify emerging risks, manage stakeholder perceptions and protect your organisation’s reputation before problems escalate. You will learn to map reputation drivers, build authentic stakeholder engagement, and create a systematic approach to issues management that works at both corporate and local level.

Reputation drivers and vulnerability assessment, stakeholder mapping and engagement strategy, authentic communication and corporate responsibility, and building a strategic issues management system.

Every session runs in a small, boardroom-format group — typically six to eight senior professionals. Your trainer tailors content to the specific industries, organisations and challenges each participant brings, so you work on real situations, not generic examples. The learning combines evidence-based best practice briefings with structured discussions, practical workshops and peer learning. This is training with a coaching and consulting flavour — focused on building skills and producing outputs you can apply in your work immediately.

• Assess the drivers of your organisation’s reputation and identify vulnerabilities
• Build a strategic approach to issues management that demonstrates clear value
• Map and prioritise stakeholders using practical evaluation tools
• Design stakeholder engagement that builds trust and authenticity
• Navigate reputational issues across digital and traditional channels
• Apply corporate responsibility principles to strengthen long-term reputation
• Create an issues management system from group level to local operations
• Identify emerging risks early using structured monitoring and assessment techniques

This module covers universal principles, concepts and modern best practice underlying reputation and issues management.

• Shaping online perceptions
• Different tools for stakeholder mapping
• Outside-in and inside-out perceptions

This module examines the components and content of reputational value in the current communication environment, with a focus on authentic practices.

• The role of corporate responsibility
• Authentic communications
• Creating and living corporate values

This module covers the practicalities of reputation management through multiple communication channels, including in challenging situations.

• Managing reputations and perceptions in different circumstances
• Building confidence and trust
• Engaging with stakeholders in a crisis
• Tools and examples for bridging the perception gap with stakeholders

This module covers issues management from a strategic perspective: the role of reputation as an organisation’s social licence to operate.

• Managing risk and reputation for your organisation
• Creating a strategic issues management system within your organisation
• Applying a strategic approach from group to local level

This course is for senior communicators and corporate affairs professionals responsible for protecting organisational reputation. It is particularly relevant if you manage stakeholder relationships, monitor emerging issues, or advise leadership on reputational risk — and want a structured strategic framework rather than ad hoc responses.

One day face-to-face
· Two half-days live online

All prices exclude local VAT where applicable

The following are some of the ISOC trainers who regularly lead this course, depending whether you join us in London, Dubai or live online.

Elena Yakunina

Strategic communications and reputation specialist

Communications and PR professional with 15+ years' experience. Former comms lead at Nestlé, Glaxo Smith Kline  and Ehrmann AG in Russia and Eurasia. London Business School leadership alumna. Speaks English, Russian and French.

Communications specialist and executive coach

Communications specialist and certified executive coach with 15+ years' international experience. Former comms lead at Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Group and Euromonitor International. Trains on executive presence, communication strategy and…