“We live in a world where I don’t think people expect perfection, but they expect honesty. When you communicate openly—even in uncertainty—you can earn credibility that really lasts.”
Kim Callahan Fox
Kim Callahan Fox has spent over 20 years shaping communications strategies for some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical, biotech, and health companies, including Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, and now Milestone Pharmaceuticals.
In her conversation with Kristen Sweeney on Expertly Said, Kim explains why she views trust and transparency as the cornerstones of strong communication and explores how companies can determine when to speak up about an issue and when to remain silent.
The big idea centers on a deceptively simple question: When should a company speak up on an issue, and when should it choose not to?
As Kim explains, these decisions demand thoughtful consideration. Ideally, an organization will have clear criteria to help them make the right call. How relevant is the issue to the business? What are the employees’ expectations? What precedent will the decision set for future communications?
Ultimately, “speaking up” can take many forms. Companies don’t have to be the loudest voice on every topic to show that they care.
Companies need clear criteria to decide which external issues warrant a response and which don’t.
Speaking up doesn’t always mean being the leading voice on a topic.
Organizations can take a stand by engaging in actions such as joining coalitions, making donations, and empowering leaders to address issues in relevant forums.Individual leaders often serve as a company’s most credible voices. Sometimes, it’s more effective for an executive to speak on behalf of an issue than the brand itself.
Expertly Said is a podcast on the art and impact of communication. Each episode features a conversation about how people connect with understand and influence one another.
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