3 crucial actions to preserve execs’ personal reputations
As the top leaders have become figure heads for their organizations, here’s how communicators can help them build a public persona that defends against the naysayers and trolls.
Brands aren’t the only ones to find themselves in the public’s crosshairs. Public anger is increasingly being directed at company leaders, including company owners, C-Suite executives, and Board members. Yet, many are still blind to these significant risks.
A huge 83% of the public say they would seek to express their anger with a senior executive publicly if they found their behavior personally objectionable in some way, according to research from Transmission Private. That objectionable behavior might mean engaging in an unpopular business practice, being caught in a corporate scandal, or simply being paid a large salary.
How would members of the public express this anger? According to the same survey, 34% said they would boycott the brand’s products, and 29% said they would “bad-mouth” the executive to friends and family. Fifteen percent said they would leave a negative review online, and 10% said they would write to the media.
These statistics should be a wake-up call for many executives. Given the risks, how should company leaders respond?
1. Implement online monitoring for executives’ names.
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