Five tips for tough messages

Sharing a message with employees in response to a world-shaking event can be challenging for even the most seasoned leader. Here are five things to consider:

1. Consult your values. What do your company and personal values tell you about who you are and what you stand for? Always let your values be your guide.
   
2. Lead with empathy. Empathy is putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. Seeing things from their perspective. Listen and remember, it’s not about you.
   
3. Keep it real. What can your employees spot a mile away? Scripting. Authentic communication should feel a little vulnerable. Employees want to know and see their leaders as real people. Challenge yourself and your leaders to be open and personal in their communication.
   
4. Let hard things be hard things. We like to wrap our messages up into tidy packages with a nice bow on top. But some things aren’t tidy, and there is no wrapping it up. Hope and honesty, like candor and confidence, aren’t mutually exclusive.
   
5. Keep the conversation going. When it comes to big issues that affect the health and wellbeing of your employees, open the door to response, questions, and continued dialogue.
   

Finally, keep in mind that sometimes hard questions lead to new questions. Be a courageous leader and follow the trail.