Hunker down. Wait and see. Sit tight.
Professional communicators often hear words like this from business leaders in uncertain times. It’s understandable. When facing issues like potential tariffs, economic uncertainty, and shifting geopolitical tensions, silence feels like the sensible option. It’s not like you have much control over events. Why stick your neck out if you don’t have to?
The thing is, silence often makes things worse.
In tough times, people look to leaders for clarity and reassurance. Demonstrating confidence can help address their concerns. You don’t need to have all the answers, and that’s okay. The goal is to show your employees, partners, stakeholders, and the public that:
- You’re aware of the situation,
- You understand their concerns, and
- You take those concerns seriously.
As the saying goes: people may not remember what you said, but they’ll definitely remember how you made them feel.
Here are key tips for communicating in challenging situations:
Show Empathy:
Be human. Acknowledge people’s concerns, show that you hear them, and encourage them to share more. This valuable feedback will help fuel informed decision-making.
Be Authentic:
Avoid communications that sound like they were drafted by committee or a team of lawyers. Corporate speak is not reassuring. Speak plainly and personally—talk to people the way they talk to you.
Show Up:
Silence from the top forces people to fill in the blanks, leading to rumors and misinformation. Be your own source of information, and lean toward saying more rather than less to minimize speculation.
Tackle the Elephant in the Room:
Address difficult topics head-on. Avoiding “that thing” in your communications only makes it loom larger.
Be Proactive:
Especially for miners dealing with a wide range of stakeholders—Indigenous communities, chambers of commerce, suppliers, and more—don’t wait until every detail is finalized to communicate. Check in regularly, and ask if there are any concerns you can address.
We’d love to hear what works for you in challenging situations.
