Lead Through Disruption: Communication Strategies for High-stakes Moments

Periods of uncertainty and instability in the world and our communities can quickly impact our organizations. Whether driven by economic, social, political or other issues, the emotional weight and stress people experience are brought into all aspects of their lives – including the workplace.  

Leaders play a vital role in ensuring their teams feel supported and informed in moments like these when emotions are high and circumstances are unsettling. Strategic, purposeful communication is one of the most important and effective ways leaders can create stability and sustain trust with their teams when they need it most. 

Communicate with Clarity and Care 

Leaders can sometimes be hesitant to communicate internally about external social and political issues or situations, fearing division or controversy. But when leaders do not communicate about current issues, employees naturally fill the silence with speculation and assumptions. This can heighten anxiety, cause distraction and lead to misinformation. Worst of all, it can erode trust in leaders and overall employee engagement.  

Those who show up with empathy and communicate clearly help employees feel seen and heard. It’s important to note that providing clarity does not mean having all the answers. Leaders can acknowledge the challenges people may be experiencing without overpromising certainty. Leaders who recognize stress without dramatizing it help teams feel grounded rather than overwhelmed. 

Be Present and Empower Others 

It’s especially important for leaders to prioritize being present, actively listening and communicating consistently during times of instability. Two-way communication surfaces employee concerns, helps people feel heard and builds engagement across the organization.  

Leaders who bring their best selves into these moments set the tone for the entire organization. An effective way to reinforce this level of presence and engagement is by equipping managers to confidently communicate as well. Providing them with training, guidance, context and message support can strengthen trust at every level and ensure consistency in both messages and behaviors. 

Ground Communication in Culture and Values 

A healthy culture is most visible during difficult moments. Organizations with strong cultures and activated values are better able to weather uncertainty because trust and psychological safety have already been established.  

An organization’s purpose, mission and values should guide leader communication with teams. This is an opportunity to authentically reinforce the culture in both words and actions. Trust grows when employees believe leaders understand their experience and feel connected to the culture and values. This helps create space for focus and resilience despite the challenges. 

Uncertainty will remain part of the business landscape. Leaders cannot control every external force, but they can control how they show up. When communication is thoughtful, consistent and grounded in purpose, organizations are able to build resilience from the inside out no matter what external pressures or challenges emerge.