Communicate During a Crisis

Many CEOs are obsessed with the latest financial news. They are constantly trying to determine how to minimize risks and capitalize on opportunities. Here's the challenge: many employees don't think the way the owner does. John Baldoni advises leaders to "not assume that everyone knows how the recession is affecting your business."

Baldoni recommends:

• Be Explicit through Specific Examples - Don't sugar-coat the news or use generalities. Let your employees know exactly how the company is being impacted.


• Tell the Story through Narrative and Graphs - "Show and Tell" is highly effective. People will remember and repeat a short story with a clear plot.


• Keep your Perspective through Humor - Recognize that you can be serious without being deadly.


• Connect through Emotion - Long after people forget what you said, they'll remember how you made them feel.

Read the entire article here: How to Talk to Your Employees about the Recession