Multiple brands have suffered reputational damage following news of abusive work environments. Fox News, NBC, Unicef, The Weinstein Company. Even NPR is on the list, following accusations against Garrison Keillor and head staff in their main office. Welcome to the #MeToo movement. The strategic question is not, in my mind, “Why did abuse occur?” Rather, it’s “How did abusive behavior happen in organizations that had everything in place we thought should prevent such abuse?” Value statements Policies from the human resources department Compliance training for all employees Compliance systems for reporting bad behavior I for one am not surprised the fortress failed. During my tenure at a Global Fortune 500 company, my project leader accosted me verbally at a dinner. The ex-marine insisted on knowing my politics, railed against political correctness, and discussed owning assault-style weapons. He would use them, he claimed, to…
Lessons for leaders from NBC’s newsroom fiasco
Stars and companies fall from grace. Because of the public hanging, the fall is never pretty. And it’s far easier to explain what happened in hindsight than predict with foresight. Still, looking backward is how we learn our lessons. So here’s my take on NBC’s shocking change in fortune. Breaking your brand promise destroys trust. News anchors must convey the objectivity, rationality, and truthfulness their viewers demand. CBS’s Walter Cronkite is the gold standard. When your chief newsman appears on late night shows and tries to be funny or raises his hand to be Jay Leno’s replacement—as Williams did—you have a potential branding issue to manage proactively. Restlessness places brand promises at risk. Restlessness emerges when the status quo produces a feeling or reality of stagnation. John Stewart is exiting the Daily Show as he felt his viewers did not deserve a host…