Courageous Conversations Over Silence

Consistent courageous conversations are imperative in a VUCA world, and remaining silent on global issues that affect your employee and customer communities is not a viable option for several compelling reasons.

During our morning walk, Liz Bronson, GPHR & I discussed how staying silent can inadvertently lead to the erosion of trust and foster an atmosphere of uncertainty and ambiguity. It can make your employees, customers, and community members wonder if they are safe with you, your product, and/or your company. Declaring a position of caring and opening the conversation on human rights issues, is a fundamental aspect of talent and stakeholder engagement, particularly in turbulent times.

This is a critical moment for leaders to establish and uphold regular communication strategies and to continually check in on their talent in order to ensure safety, acknowledge people’s human experience, and create space for opportunities for support.

We have heard that many firms may have refrained from internal communication since the situation in the Middle East, specifically between Israel and Hamas, became elevated two weeks ago. To guide leaders during this difficult time, we have prepared a sample internal communication that aims to provide support to leadership teams as a neutral and compassionate approach to support people contemplating their internal communication strategy.?

Below is a sample of an internal communication:

Team,

We would like to acknowledge the ongoing situation in the Middle East, where there have been recent developments involving Israel and Hamas.?

Many of us are keeping a close eye on the news and social media for daily updates. During these times of uncertainty, it's important to recognize the emotions that this situation evokes.

We extend our deepest sympathies to those who belong to the communities directly affected by these events. It's crucial that we come together as a team to support each other and our wider community during this challenging period. Our request is for each individual to demonstrate compassion, empathy, and kindness as we navigate these developments.?

Our organization will not condone terror and will not stand with any terrorist organizations. We believe in solving issues through discourse, compromise, and communication. Hatred or discrimination against any person or group for their beliefs, heritage, or culture will not be condoned or accepted. We are committed to acting swiftly and decisively against any acts of discrimination or threats by or against any of our employees or customers. We know that we have members of our community who are deeply affected by what is happening in Israel and Gaza, and we are here to stand together and support one another during these trying times.

If you are looking for help or need assistance in any way, we have resources to assist you as you navigate this and other difficult situations. Please reach out to {XYZ}, and know various resources are available to support you through your direct People Manager, People team and/or Employee Assistant Program partner.