Here’s one of the most overlooked truths in crisis communication: The messenger matters as much as the message. You can have a perfect statement, a perfect plan, and a perfect rollout. But if it comes from someone your stakeholders don’t trust, it will fall flat. Or worse, backfire. We are in an...
In our last post, we discussed the importance of mapping your stakeholders. Now it’s time to really understand them. And the whole thinking for this series was spurred by this column about where people get their information. While Kith is politically agnostic, all of us have worked in politics at...
If you’ve been around a moment, you’ve heard or read about our Kith formula: Clarity + Trust = Strategic Speed. Today, I want to talk about just one piece of Clarity: Knowing your stakeholders. That means knowing who matters, what they value, and how to communicate with them effectively under...
Lately, we’ve seen organizations in the news that have failed to prepare for an uncomfortable scenario: when the threat comes from within. It’s unsettling to imagine a business unraveling due to the actions of an insider (whether intentional or not). But it happens, and few are feeling that...
Demonstrating that no industry is immune to controversy – and highlighting the need for solid risk mitigation strategies – a shocking scandal has just rocked the HR tech sector. Rippling, a company specializing in workforce management, has taken legal action against its rival Deel, accusing it of...
It's a paper moon: it only works if you believe in it How many of you have read the Meta tell-all, Careless People? This book has been on the New York Times best seller list since its release and is continuing to sell well. The book was authored by Facebook’s former director of global public...
Five overlooked ways your industry group can shield, guide, and amplify your voice when it matters most An article in Fortune last week detailed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s deliberations on whether or not they would sue the Trump administration on behalf of its members to halt its global trade...
I’m in the process of prepping a global crisis simulation for a multinational corporation. The other day, our brilliant client lead came to me and said “I can’t believe I’m bringing this up, but we need to add a Canada component. For the first time, we have to worry about the differences between...
As we approach the Easter and Passover "egg season," egg prices remain at an all-time high due to an ongoing shortage caused by the widespread avian flu. Businesses in the food and beverage industry that use a large volume of eggs – such as breakfast restaurants IHOP, Waffle House, and Denny’s –...
The Washington Post has been shaking things up lately, especially in its opinion section. Owner Jeff Bezos just announced a shift to focus on "personal liberties and free markets," which led to the resignation of respected opinion editor David Shipley. This move, like many shakeups happening in...
A few weeks ago, Starbucks announced that it would be ending its open-door policy, which allowed people to use the store's seating and restrooms even if they didn't make a purchase. The company stated that the change was made to "enhance" the customer experience. However, many critics have...
With the holidays in the rearview mirror, many of us now turn to making personal resolutions for the new year. Whether it's training for a Tough Mudder, getting more sleep (hello, melatonin), saving more money for your dream retirement beach house, or remembering to call your elderly aunt at a...
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