BulletProofBlog the blog on crisis communications

Last week, suspended Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas wrote an open letter published in the Washington Post in which he admitted wrongdoing and promised to do his best to transform his recent missteps into a learning experience for all of Washington D.C.’s youth.

“I understand the importance of teaching nonviolence to kids in today's world,” Arenas wrote. “That message of nonviolence will be front and center as I try to rebuild my relationship with young people in the D.C. area. I know that won't happen overnight, and that it will happen only if I show through my actions that I am truly sorry and have learned from my mistakes.”

It seems Gilbert is finally beginning to get it.

All too often, high-profile individuals in the midst of a reputational crisis view their mea culpas as the end of the healing process, when, in fact, it is only the beginning. Standing up and taking responsibility for a mistake does bring closure; but only to Act I. Acts II and III of a comeback story are rooted in action, not words. The focus Gilbert put on next steps in his statement demonstrates an understanding that he’s still in the early stages of regaining the public’s trust and that much work still remains.

Right now, they’re just words on a page. But if Gilbert Arenas can turn those sentiments into reality, then he might be in for a warmer welcome when he returns next fall than anyone would have predicted just a month ago.

Gene Grabowski is Senior Vice President of Crisis and Litigation at Levick Strategic Communications, the nation’s top crisis communications firm, and a contributing author to Bulletproof Blog. Connect with him @crisisguru.