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

The Easy Question Almost Everyone Flubs

As communication coaches, it’s our job to challenge clients with tough questions so they’re ready to face the scrutiny of the media, the Board or other high-stakes audiences.

But we notice that often it’s not the hard questions, rather the easy ones that catch clients off-guard. In fact, there is one in particular that at least half seem to fumble. What is it?

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