So many crises, so little communication

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1. Google vs Tesla: The ultimate corporate communication showdown

Earlier this month, Tesla cut its global workforce by around 10%, affecting some 14,000 employees.
Many people criticized Tesla CEO Elon Musk for his apparent lack of empathy. His public posts to X included “About every five years, we need to reorganize and streamline the company for the next phase of growth.” Such vague language can easily cause misinterpretation.
In contrast, people questioned why Google CEO Sundar Pichai fired 28 Google employees who protested the company’s ongoing projects with the Israeli government. His response was to the point: “Ultimately we are a workplace and our policies and expectations are clear: this is a business,” Pichai wrote. Communicating bad news is tough, but clear reasoning can help dispel misconceptions.

Anti-war protests have erupted on college campuses across the U.S. again as pro-Palestinian students demonstrate increasing demand for a ceasefire in Gaza and divestment in Israel.
Columbia University’s protests have made headlines as a hotspot. The university’s president, Minouche Shafik, has faced intense criticism and even appeared before Congress to testify on a perceived lack of leadership and control of the campus.
Conflicts require leaders to listen to both sides of the argument, empathize to understand each sides’ wants and needs, provide effective, clear communication to curtail sparks of discontent before they rage out of control, and ultimately, to make the right decision.

Whether it’s the difficult decision to trim a workforce or attempting to quell civil unrest, an organized, thoughtful communication strategy is vital. Do you have an agency partner in place who’s qualified, briefed, and prepared for crisis situations?
When organizations need a strategic partner to help guide leadership, executives, and external communication, outside trusted advisors can provide the right perspective to move forward. Adding crisis communications management coverage to your company’s insurance policy can be a huge benefit in a crisis.
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