By: Silvia Quevedo for American Society of Association Executives One simple shift in language can help boards and leaders break out of old patterns and drive strategic, future-focused thinking—even amid current challenges in the U.S. Learn how (and why) to make this change with real-world examples that demonstrate how small wording adjustments inspire bigger impact. […]
CEO transitions are never just internal events — they are moments of truth that can redefine an organization’s reputation in the eyes of every stakeholder. The stakes are immense: investors demand clarity, employees look for reassurance, regulators expect transparency and customers want continuity. When communication is mishandled, uncertainty fills the void, and confidence in leadership […]
By Matt Watkins for The Chronicle of Philanthropy Polarization isn’t just reshaping national politics. It’s reshaping how nonprofits talk to the people they serve, the partners they need, and the communities they hope to bring together. Every day, strategic plans collapse over a single phrase. Funders and grantees misinterpret each other’s intent. Communications campaigns spark […]
By Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications When it comes to crisis communications, no amount of spin can repair the damage caused by poor judgment at the top. By now, you’ve probably seen the viral clip. At a Coldplay concert, in front of tens of thousands of fans, the stadium’s KissCam landed on Andy Byron, CEO of […]
From our good friend and colleague, Tony Jaques, Director of Issue Outcomes Pty Ltd, in Australia… Does a CEO op-ed serve any good purpose in a crisis? Writing an op-ed to help frame an important issue is a well-established tool in the communications armoury. But when a CEO uses it to “explain” a corporate crisis, it […]
By Nick Hansen, writing for The American Bar Association “If you can see it coming, it’s not a crisis,” said Bruce Hennes, CEO of Hennes Communications, to audience members at his 2024 Bar Leadership Institute workshop “Speaking Out or Strategic Silence? Organizational Approaches to Issuing Public Statements.”Hennes, along with (now former) Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association […]
By Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications In today’s high-stakes environment, rising to the C-suite is one challenge. Navigating a full-blown crisis is another entirely. Leading an organization into financial success, operational growth or market dominance does not automatically prepare you for the turbulence of public scrutiny, viral misinformation or emotional social media backlash. While your boardroom […]
By Seth Chalmers, writing for The Stanford Social Innovation Review… “Should we put out a statement?” If you’re a nonprofit communications professional, you’ve heard that question many times, often the day after some major news event. Since the October 7 massacres in Israel and subsequent war in Gaza, many nonprofits have struggled to decide whether […]
This article ran first in Crain’s Cleveland Business on December 19, 2024. By Bruce Hennes, CEO, Hennes Communications This article examines the crisis communications lessons from the tragic assassination of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, Brian Thompson. It critiques the company’s public statements and explores the broader ethical and reputational challenges facing UnitedHealthcare in light of this tragedy […]
By Jeff De Cagna, writing for The Center for Association Leadership… It is time for association boards to become fit for purpose and meet their successors’ expectations. In an article in the 2024 Associations Now Board Brief, I wrote: “Less than a year before the midway point of The Turbulent Twenties arrives, association boards must make a […]
