Five Keys to Communicating Difficult News

One of the most important roles of a leader is to communicate effectively during difficult moments. After all, there is no time that customers, investors, and employees will be more focused on the message from the top than when proverbial sirens are blaring, and smoke is in the air. How and what leaders communicate during challenging times can define the legacy of not only the leader but the entire organization. So, leaders, in this moment, tread carefully but do communicate.

Here are five keys to communicating in challenging times:

Christina McKennaMarch 26, 2025speaker coaching, spokesperson, CEO, CFO, media training

Three Signs It's Time to Hire a Speech Coach

“There’s not an employee at the company who doesn’t love him,” she said, “Which is why it’s so hard to watch.”

The HR leader was calling about her company’s beloved CEO, a talented executive who had risen through the organization’s own ranks to land the top job, only to underwhelm in high stakes moments.

Christina McKennaMarch 3, 2025speaker coaching, spokesperson, CEO, CFO, media training

Media Won't Cover You? Cover Yourself.

Years ago when I was the lead spokesperson for Boston Edison, the company went through a brutal six-month stretch during which it was pounded in the press for an unusually high number of power outages and accidents---and THEN suffered an ugly labor strike.

So when I heard that, in the wake of a series of Florida hurricanes, our crews were heading south to help restore power, we made a serious round of media calls. I wanted to be sure every local TV station and newspaper got the word that, in this case, we were the good guys, stepping up to help those in need.

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