The Importance of Communication During Adversity

When organizational changes or external factors create uncertainty, communication mistakes by leaders can unintentionally increase stress and anxiety for employees. As a department or team head, you must convey information thoughtfully. Key Takeaways: - Spotlighting only successes can make failure seem abnormal and prompt shame when things go wrong. Share lessons learned from challenges, too. - Provide "non-update" updates so silence doesn't fuel the assumption of impending bad news. - Balance future focus with recognition of accomplishments to date so teams feel capable. - Acknowledge hard times transparently without oversharing unconstructive venting. - Explain the rationale for surprises to prevent worst-case assumptions. Actions to Take: - Frame success stories as "belonging interventions" that normalize hurdles. - Regularly ask yourself, "What have I not said?" and evaluate what would be helpful to share. - Dedicate time in 1-on-1s and meetings to recognize recent wins. - Express confidence in overcoming current challenges based on past resilience. - Proofread messages to prevent unnecessary stress. Careful communication from leaders can provide stability amid uncertainty, boosting engagement and performance. #leadership #communication #organizationalculture

WHEN TEMPERS FLARE, YOU'RE LOCKED IN A STALEMATE, OR A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR DEAL IS ON THE LINE, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY TO TURNING IT AROUND. The right communication framework fosters understanding, strengthens relationships, and drives powerful results within your team. Both personally and professionally, effective communication is key to successful teamwork, conflict resolution, and collaboration. From construction to finance, from fashion to family offices, my high performance clients master the skills to navigate the toughest conversations and transform them into their biggest breakthroughs. And here’s how you can do it too: 1. FRAME THE POSITIVE INTENTION: Start with shared goals. Establish a shared purpose to align your conversation positively and maintain the focus on optimal outcomes. ➡️”We both want [a positive, uplifting relationship].” “This is about us being [happier, more productive].” A positive start encourages cooperation and a safe space for communication. 2. DESCRIBE THE OBSERVABLE: Present facts without emotional interpretation. Focus on specific events or behaviors rather than feelings. ➡️ “When [specific event] happened, I saw [specific observation].” Stick to observable facts and avoid personal interpretations to keep the conversation neutral. 3. SHARE THE FEELING: Express your emotions without blame. Own your feelings without blaming others, and invite the other person to share theirs. ➡️“We both feel [emotion].” “I feel [emotion] about [situation].” Take ownership of your feelings. Express them without pointing fingers and encourage others to do the same. 4. REQUEST THEIR PERSPECTIVE: Invite input and collaboration. Ask for the other person’s perspective to gain insight into their viewpoint. ➡️“How did you see that?” “What did you observe?” Listen actively and be open to hearing the other person’s thoughts, fostering mutual understanding. 5. MAKE THE ASK WITH BENEFIT EXTENSIONS Propose mutually beneficial solutions: Offer choices that meet both parties' needs. ➡️ “If [action] occurs, we would feel [emotion] and [emotion].” “Here are two options that work for me…” Present two acceptable options to empower the other person to contribute to the solution. 6. WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD A CONSENSUS Collaborate on finding the best solution: Work together to determine the best course of action and express appreciation when a decision is made. ➡️ “I appreciate the thought you’ve put into this. I’m glad we agreed on [decision].” By applying my effective communication framework, you foster open, respectful communication that builds trust, enhances collaboration, and contributes to team success. And the great news is that you can use this both personally and professionally! I’m curious… ~When was a time that you needed this framework in your life? #future #communication #success

Navigating difficult conversations…we know the terrain well in supply chain and sustainability —complex stakeholder relationships, competing priorities, and tough tradeoffs that demand honest dialogue. The first quarter of 2025 has been challenging for some clients and colleagues. Behind every successful initiative lies countless challenging conversations.I wanted to share this list that captures what I've learned (often the hard way) about handling challenging discussions: 1. Lead with empathy - acknowledge feelings before diving into issues 2. Stay calm - pause and breathe when tensions rise. Cooler heads prevail. 3. Prepare but remain flexible - rigid scripts rarely survive contact with reality 4. Ask genuine questions - "help me understand your perspective" 5. Give authentic appreciation - recognize effort before suggesting changes 6. Own your emotions - acknowledge feelings without manipulation 7. Respect others' viewpoints - validation doesn't require agreement. You can disagree and still find a happy path. 8. Be specific - vague criticisms like "you always" rarely help 9. Collaborate on solutions - problem-dumping without brainstorming fixes nothing 10. Set clear boundaries - know what you can and cannot commit to 11. Listen actively - not just waiting for your turn to speak. Read this again… 12. Apologize sincerely when needed - take responsibility, not half-measures. Accountability helps build trust. 13. End with concrete next steps - clarity prevents misunderstandings. Playing back throughout tough conversations with key points and actions shows active listening and understanding. 14. Reflect afterward - what worked? what could improve? In my experience leading global teams, the conversations I've handled poorly weren't failures of strategy—they were failures of approach and understanding context. For example, a recent negotiation with a supplier facing severe capacity constraints could have deteriorated into finger-pointing. Instead, by focusing on understanding their challenges first (point #4) and collaborating on creative solutions (point #9), we found a path forward and workable compromise. Staying calm helped too ;) What's your experience? Which of these principles has been most valuable in your leadership journey? Or is there a 15th point you'd add to this list? ___________ 👍🏽 Like this? ♻️ Repost to help someone ✅ Follow me Sheri R. Hinish 🔔 Click my name → Hit the bell → See my posts. #SupplyChain #leadership #sustainability

Here's a hard truth I've learned about leadership: More executives lose their jobs due to poor communication than because of performance issues. Why? Because your ability to succeed as a leader often hinges on how effectively you communicate your ideas, align with your peers and leadership, and clearly demonstrate your results. Communication challenges are inevitable, especially under stress. And if you don't tackle them head-on, they can quickly undermine your career. I'll admit, communication has always been a growth area for me: ✅ Strengths: I'm direct, candid, honest, and (at least I think) compassionate ⚠️ Weaknesses: I can be impatient, impulsive, interruptive, and sometimes let emotion cloud my clarity At Pavilion, we've been actively working to solve this problem by using tools like SurePeople, which help our entire team better understand each other's communication styles (fun fact, all Pavilion members have access to the SurePeople assessment as part of their membership!). SurePeople provides specific, tailored advice on how to communicate with each person, especially under pressure. My recent hack? I load SurePeople’s detailed communication advice about a specific coworker into ChatGPT, along with my first drafts of emails or Slack messages I'm about to send them. I then ask ChatGPT to refine my message using the insights from SurePeople so it’s specifically tailored to resonate with that individual. This approach helps me ensure clarity, remove unintended emotional tone, and significantly improves alignment and understanding. Starting important conversations in writing (specifically, by email) has become a game changer, especially when things get tough. It lets me carefully curate my thoughts, remove emotional noise, and deliver clear, compelling messages that land exactly as intended. I've shared a graphic below illustrating what SurePeople say's about my colleague Aaron Leeder's communication style, and how it relates to mine. This is just a small snapshot - there's a LOT more detail in the platform - but you can get a sense of where differences in communication style might cause misunderstandings or frustration. For the last few months, I've been using this approach for clearer, more effective communication -- and it's working! What starts as a well written email then turns into a productive conversation where I feel like I'm able to convey my thinking in a way that is productive. No one is born a perfect communicator - but we can all improve with intention and the right tools. Anyone else use assessment tools in this way? I would love to know what is working for you. #Leadership #Communication #Kathleenhq

Let’s challenge a common misconception: Crisis communication is not about managing the incident. It’s about building and strengthening trust through the incident. In moments of high stress—when people are experiencing fear, resistance, grief, or anger—logic isn’t enough. In fact, it often gets dismissed entirely. That’s because: You cannot beat emotion with logic. (Crisis Ready® Rule) No matter how accurate or reassuring your message may be, if you don’t first acknowledge the emotional landscape, people will not feel seen, safe, or supported—and they won’t follow your lead. So what does real crisis leadership require? 💥 Emotional validation: Naming the emotions people are feeling 💥 Energetic presence: Leaning into the energy of the situation and holding space without bypassing discomfort 💥 Relational attunement: Speaking directly to what matters most to others 💥 Safety: Creating a felt sense of emotional safety and connection Only then—only then—are people able to hear your message, trust your leadership, and move forward with you. This is what we teach inside the Crisis Ready® Course on Mastering Crisis Communication & Leadership. Because in today’s emotionally charged world, connection isn’t a soft skill—it’s a strategic imperative. And leaders who know how to create emotional resonance will always be the ones who move others through the hardest moments. THIS is the leadership people are craving today. THIS is the leadership we need to see more of. Feel called or inspired to learn more? 👉 https://lnkd.in/eG25qxn9 #CrisisCommunication #CrisisLeadership #EmotionalSafety #TrustInLeadership #CrisisReady