In a crisis, leaders are often judged by their words. Robert D. McFadden of The New York Times built a legendary career writing with clarity, speed, and impact — exactly what crisis moments demand. The best way to strengthen your own writing under pressure? Read great writing. McFadden’s work is a master class. The byline […]
Introduction by Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications I was a proud Boy Scout in the 1960s. Growing up in Ohio near Camp Manatoc—once considered by many to be the second-best Boy Scout camp in the country, after Philmont—we learned how to hike, haul water, pitch tents in the dead of winter, practice gun safety, work as […]
Crisis communications is a sub-specialty of the public relations profession that is designed to protect and defend an individual, company, or organization facing a public challenge to its reputation. Crisis communications is aimed at raising awareness of a specific type of threat, the magnitude, outcomes, and specific behaviors to adopt to reduce the threat. – Wikipedia Over the last […]
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 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 […]
In this post-election climate, the expectations placed upon corporations, as well as healthcare, education and social service organizations, are more complex than ever. Navigating societal issues, especially hot-button topics like gender, climate and racial discrimination, is no longer optional—it’s an expectation. This responsibility grows exponentially with the reelection of Donald Trump, as organizations may face […]
By Kim Markus, writing for PR News… In today’s fast-paced media environment, where misinformation quickly spreads, PR professionals face a critical challenge: how to ensure authenticity remains at the heart of campaigns. The trust built with audiences is fragile, and reclaiming it requires courage, transparency and a focus on storytelling that resonates. The release of the […]
By Carol Kinsey Goman There are two sets of qualities that people look for in leaders: warmth/likeability/empathy and power/confidence/authority. While women often excel in displaying warmth (which shows up in their influence and collaboration skills), they may hesitate to directly seek or show power. As Women’s History Month ended, it served as timely reminder to […]
By Mark Athitakis for Associations Now A confident CEO is a good thing: Not only can they serve as an inspiration to a team, they can move markets. A recent EY report on CEO confidence notes that much of the global economy turns on leaders’ decisions in the face of risk. “History shows that a lack […]