After the Uvalde school shootings, several people said publicly that [statements of] “thoughts and prayers are not enough.” They were right. Unfortunately, we are desensitized to these expressions as empathy-and-compassion statements have become commoditized. As a result, they have lost their power to ease the emotional pain that accompanies crises.

I’ve reviewed hundreds of corporate statements issued for every manner of issue and crisis. The language has become what I would characterize as...

Despite some positive data about the global economy buzzing around, there continues to be a spate of layoffs across multiple industries. Navigating the optics of delivering bad news and how stakeholders perceive it is critical to protecting reputation. Failure to consider the perceptions of stakeholders can result in significant damage to a reputation that took time and effort to build.

From Amazon to Zillow, the tech sector in particular has experienced layoffs as the economy has rebounded...