So far I’ve presented five tips on how to begin communicating about a tough subject. The tips should help whether you’re trying to solve an issue in your personal or professional life.
They’re presented in order on this Substack, but if you haven’t started from number one, you can start with this entry and then go back. This is generic wisdom about starting the conversation. That’s the first step.
Here’s what we’ve covered so far:
Tip #1 - be brave and decide to have the difficult conversation.
Tip #2 - communicate to solve the problem.
Tip #3 - say as much as you can upfront and get it behind you.
Tip #4 - don't say everything! Leave out the unhelpful bits.
Tip #5 - use words we all understand. Be inclusive.
For Tip #6, I’m revisiting a topic in the hope of convincing you to have the conversation in the first place. I know that some of you are stuck there, so let me do what I can to get you unstuck.
If you’re still deciding whether not to raise a difficult issue or have a tough talk, here’s the best reason to get started.
Other people are already talking about it. They are filling the void until you decide to speak up. Until you enter the fray, you’re letting them define reality.
They will not have the best interests of you / your organization / your family in mind when they communicate so they can inflict damage that’s hard to undo. The longer you let it go, the harder it will be to reclaim the truth.
I always remind people that without facts, people will make up their own narrative and it will lack perspective unless you decide to say something and clarify.
If you’re working on reputation management for an organization that will attract media attention, this is a crucial problem to solve. A trained journalist will [hopefully] explore both sides of an issue and want to hear what you have to say. Be very sure you have something helpful ready to mitigate the situation.
Unfortunately, journalists are just one part of the equation now. You also have to contend with influencers on TikTok, podcast hosts, activists with large social media followings, and even writers here on Substack, just to name a few.
Get out ahead of it. Don’t let them define reality for you. If you need a reminder, check out Tip #1.
If you’re ready for Tip #7, click here. Think of the questions people want answers to. In most scenarios they will be roughly the same; how did this happen, what will you do to fix it, etc. Answer those.