In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll discuss the tumultuous impact of tariff policies on corporate America, highlighting the challenges and strategies companies face in navigating communication during periods of volatility. They explore the delicate balance between speaking out and remaining silent, the evolution of corporate communication strategies, and the importance of timing and credibility in corporate messaging. 

Takeaways

• Silence from companies can be a strategic choice, but it carries risks.
• The shift from episodic crisis response to permanent volatility management is significant.
• Companies need to be proactive in their communication strategies.
• The recent market turmoil has opened a window for corporate voices to speak out.

Topics Mentioned
corporate communication, tariffs, corporate reputation, market volatility, CEO responses, communication strategy, business risk, public relations, trade policy, corporate America

Companies Mentioned
White House, Wall Street, JP Morgan, RH, Restoration Hardware, Bloomberg, Treasury, Politico, Wall Street Journal, Ethan Allen, Yale School of Management, S&P

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Corporate Communication Challenges
03:02 The Impact of Tariffs on Corporate America
05:50 Navigating Silence and Communication Risks
09:09 The Shift to Permanent Volatility Management
12:00 Opportunities for Corporate Voices
14:48 Case Studies: Furniture Industry Responses
18:01 The Evolution of Corporate Communication Strategies


Hashtags
#corporatecommunication #tariffs #corporatereputation #marketvolatility #CEOresponses #communicationstrategy #businessrisk #publicrelations #tradepolicy #corporateAmerica #WhiteHouse #WallStreet #JPMorgan #RH #RestorationHardware #Bloomberg #Treasury #Politico #WallStreetJournal #EthanAllen #YaleSchoolofManagement #S&P

Communication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.
Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.
Produced in partnership with Advocast Leadership Advisory and  Shawn P Neal.

For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcasts@ocrnetwork.com