by When leaders behave badly, it’s on comms to react decisively. Consider recent instances of CEOs from Astronomer and Nestlé being ousted from their positions due to impropriety that has cast the companies in a negative light. That sort of embarrassment doesn’t just ding the company’s reputation — it also can chip away at internal morale.
For an internal communicator, it’s all about getting information to your employees to preserve their experience and the organization’s reputation for current and prospective employees. However, a less-discussed aspect of the equation during these leadership crises is the role of the board. Their influence can greatly affect the internal communications process, as well as the issues management and crisis communications approach.
Montieth Illingworth, CEO of Montieth and Company, told Ragan that when a leadership crisis does happen, communicators should work with the board to create messaging that preserves both the company’s internal culture and external image. When employees see that the board wields influence over leadership, a sense of stability can take hold.
“You want to be able to convey that people in the company who have authority also have certain responsibilities, and that’s what protects the integrity of the culture,” Illingworth said. “We’re going to make sure to say that if people in authority do not take responsible action, there will be consequences.”
The full article can be found at Ragan Communications.