Reputations can be built, attacked, and destroyed on social media. It's a huge game-changer - instantaneously emboldening adversaries and shortening the ride for any corporate or personal brand.
Allegations become facts, and facts become truth in the eyes of the public, whether they are true or not.
A wonderful quality about America is that we love redemption stories. We're quick to lash out and assign blame, but we also draw from deep reservoirs of forgiveness.
I think that scandal and intrigue and all of those sort of things that occur behind closed doors - whether it's on the Hill or in the White House - people all find intriguing.
Establish and maintain good working relationships with co-workers. You don't have to be friends, but you do have to be friendly.
Whatever the issue is or problem is, you have to own it, and you have to face into it. If not, it will just really get worse, and it will get compounded.
The ambition and focus that propel you to success can also be your downfall.
It can be a real blow to our egos when we feel as if our hard-earned degrees don't matter as much as our ability to get the morning coffee orders right.
When clients are involved in a crisis, we often start at the end. When this is over, where do you want to end up? What's your endgame? We try to start from that and work ourselves back.
Rightfully given near-deity status in the early days of industrial America, the J.P. Morgans, Rockefellers, Carnegies, and Vanderbilts of the world not only ran our country, they were also revered - and often despised - as larger-than-life personalities who could perform feats mere mortals could only dream of.
I will say this about the truth - that it's one of those crisis rules, whether you are a client or someone who's living their life just every day - is that the truth has a funny way of not going away, and telling the truth is extremely important in dealing with any problem or crisis.
My experience at the White House was invaluable.
Unless you work in HR, it's not your responsibility to necessarily police and monitor workplace conversation.
Crisis is not a nine-to-five job... Crisis happens when you least expect it.
My theory on an existing crisis is that you have to be very strategic about each case's unique elements. If a crisis involves a legal component, you need a communication strategy that complements the company's legal objective. A strategy for a plea deal is different than a case going to trial.
When times are good, a CEO should remain poised and composed. When times are difficult, a CEO should remain poised and composed.
Workplace romances - or even the illusion of a workplace romance - can carry many ramifications and consequences.
Nothing kills a CEO's credibility faster than legal, regulatory, and/or ethical questions.
I charge by the hour, or I am on a retainer. We try to work with the client.
While it may be tempting to bask fully in the glory of success, remember: When a CEO takes too much credit for the good, they will receive far too much criticism for the bad.
