Nonprofits Are Messy: Lessons in Leadership | Fundraising | Board Development | Communications Ep 215: The Worst Headline Just Hit The New York Times. Now What? (with Seth Chalmer)
32 snips
Nov 9, 2024 Seth Chalmer, Senior Director of Communications at Leading Edge, shares his expertise on crisis management in the nonprofit sector. He discusses how leaders can effectively engage with controversial societal issues amidst polarization. Seth emphasizes the importance of crafting clear internal and external messaging to enhance organizational resilience. He also covers the delicate balance of adopting public stances on contentious topics, aligning advocacy with core values, and fostering open conversations that lead to productive outcomes.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Internal Clarity First
- Seek internal clarity before responding to external pressures.
- Disentangle questions of stance, decision-making, and communication strategy.
Preparedness for Controversy
- Controversies are inevitable; prepare stances on predictable issues in advance.
- Organizational hygiene includes anticipating potential hot-button topics.
Defining a Stance
- A "stance" is a position on an issue, which can even be neutral.
- Neutrality itself is a stance that needs defending, not an absence of one.