Temin and Company

Equifax: A Category 5 Cybersecurity Crisis Storm. Chances Are It Will Hit You

Leadership, “Reputation Matters,” Forbes, September 9, 2017

You would really think that by now companies in crisis could get it right the first time.

But no, as Equifax announced its epic Category 5 Crisis — the cyberhack of 143 million consumers’ social security numbers, drivers’ license numbers, birthdates, addresses and credit card numbers affecting at least 44% of the American population — after stalling over a month to stop the hack and prepare for the onslaught of a public announcement, clearly got the apology algorithm all wrong anyway. Did they think no one would notice?

From a tepid apology from CEO Richard Smith — totally incommensurate with the size of the crisis — to a completely botched announcement of remediation, tying use of their free credit monitoring to forfeiting the right of a trial and mandating arbitration, they just got everything wrong.

Whenever you come out of the gate wrong in a crisis — either minimizing the problem, putting forth a totally tone-deaf message, trying to pull a fast one on your consumers by limiting your liability, or retaining some of your breezy marketing messages in the face of category 5 devastation — you court the fury of your customers, the public, regulators and investors.

Here’s what Equifax has done wrong — so far. […read more]

The Only Adults In The Room: Why Business Leaders Rose To The Challenge And Led The Country

Leadership, “Reputation Matters,” Forbes, August 27, 2017

For a supposedly slow month, August has seen quite a lot of action in the C-Suites and Boardrooms of America. As CEOs bailed out of the White House Industry Councils, protesting President Trump’s insufficient condemnation of events in Charlottesville, they filled a void — taking on a national leadership role whether they wished to or not. No one from the Cabinet or Congress was rising to the occasion, so in the midst of national crisis, business leaders proved themselves to be the only adults in the room.

Ever concerned about achieving favorable tax legislation, maintaining a stable economy, and paving the way for global expansion, corporate America has always had a major stake in how Washington operates. In some administrations relations have been more strained, and in others more collegial. But rarely have corporate leaders felt the need to exit en masse from White House-sponsored advisory councils, such as happened this month. […read more]

Uber CEO Kalanick’s Resignation Is Not The Best Answer

Leadership, “Reputation Matters,” Forbes, June 21, 2017

I am sad that Travis Kalanick had to resign. As news of the Uber CEO’s resignation is digested by the world’s media analysts and leadership pundits, I would like to put forth a contrarian point of view – especially coming from such an outspoken advocate of gender equity in organizations. I do not think this is the biggest win that we who are interested in a bias and harassment-free workplace could have hoped for. Not by a long-shot.

Reformation vs. Resignation

Kalanick’s reformation would have been such a more powerful and optimistic story. It would have shown that, yes, personal transformation is possible, even among tone-deaf, frat-boy, start-up executives. And it could have shown that once a leader is made to, and allowed to, grow up, he or she can own it, and then transform a culture. […read more]

Dear Uber, Here Are 11 Ways You Can Fix Your Culture To Support Women Right Now

Leadership, “Reputation Matters,” Forbes, June 18, 2017

To rephrase Madeleine Albright: There is a special place in heaven for men — and women — who help other women. But for Uber, and so many other organizations, their cultures are in need of an essential transformation before they even begin to find their place in the firmament.

Of course Uber is not the only company to sport a “bro” culture that can be antithetical to women executives’ presence, progress, and well-being. They’re just one of the most flagrant.

So, as Arianna Huffington and Eric Holder began to publicly reign in the executive office, and board, I began to think of what it would really take for Uber, and other organizations, to immediately empower, support and profit from the women in their workforce. I decided that this, drawn from over 25 years’ experience as a coach, reputation manager, and CEO dedicated to promoting women and girls’ leadership at every level, would be the topic of my remarks: 11 Ways To Support the Women in Your Organization and Life. I am pleased to share it with you today. […read more]

How United Became The World’s Most Hated Airline In One Day

Leadership, “Reputation Matters,” Forbes, January 18, 2017

It’s no longer crisis as usual for United Airlines, or anyone else. Live social media posting has changed what you can get away with in a crisis — forever.

It used to be that if an airline made as monumental a mistake as United Airlines just did by causing a paying customer who had done nothing wrong to be dragged off a plane screaming, bloodying him up along the way in front of all his fellow passengers, they might still have gotten away with it.

After all, on a plane, passengers were basically incommunicado, so people couldn’t have protested easily, and they might not have been believed, especially if the airline denied it or called it an “overreaction.” The populace tends to believe its leaders in these situations, if compelling evidence to the contrary doesn’t exist. It rather makes one wonder about how many times such a debacle has happened before, and just not been caught on video.

But today all that changed. Live footage of the assault of an innocent passenger by security personnel was captured and immediately posted on social media around the world, instantly making United one of the most hated companies in the world. […read more]

10 Leadership Blind Spots That Can Trigger Business Crises In 2017

Leadership, “Reputation Matters,” Forbes, January 18, 2017

When you look closely at what triggers crises in organizations, you often see that there is a major leadership oversight or blind spot that has allowed the crisis to exist in the first place – and then grow, unrecognized, until it’s too late. Just as many leaders want to be perceived as trustworthy in a rapidly changing environment, leaders themselves need to be aware of who and what they are trusting. Misplaced trust is a clear precursor to trouble.

As businesses look toward the coming year, here is a deeper dive into common crisis triggers, so that management teams and boards can recognize hidden risks and danger zones within their organizations. […read more]

The 9 Worst Ways To Brand Yourself

Leadership, “Reputation Matters” Forbes, January 6, 2017

Are you getting tired of all the content-less “content marketing” that pervades the internet in order to “brand” professionals as thought leaders? I know that a lot of the HR heads and CEOs I work with are.

They see this explosion of self-branding “lite” as insubstantial and overly self-promotional. And while the internet does afford everyone a platform to air their thoughts, when done poorly it can backfire and actually take away from your professional reputation and brand equity, instead of building it up.

Unlike a celebrity profile, an executive reputation or brand is forged when you truly stand for something and the totality of your work product, presence, writing, insight, and professional and personal actions support that stance. Whether it is as an A++++ player, a subject-matter expert, a breakthrough strategist, or an inspired leader, these are brands that are built up over time and execution, and validated by the opinions of others, including the media.

True content marketing is leveraging the unique ideas, expertise, opinions, and insight of employees not for the employees’ sake, but to raise the reputation of their organizations.

It is possible for corporate or non-profit professionals to successfully position themselves in public as thought leaders, but not for everyone and not in the wrong ways.

So, to help you avoid some of the pitfalls of over-self-promotion and under-delivery, here is my list of the nine worst ways to brand yourself in 2017. […read more]

Ancient Wisdom For The New Year: The 36 Chinese Stratagems For Psychological Warfare

Leadership, “Reputation Matters,” Forbes, January 2, 2017

2017 is the perfect time to learn some new leadership and coping strategies for the battles ahead — in business, politics, war, and life.

Last year we found out just how wrong we can be in our collective assumptions — and how much we don’t know about what others are thinking, or doing behind the scenes.

Whether it is because the Internet allows us to only hear from people who think like we do; polls relying on “Big Data” can be wrong; we are convinced of the wisdom of the crowd, even when the crowd is being manipulated; or we are just plain gullible — it is time to realize that leaders need to listen to and learn from those who think differently from them. […read more]

What They’re Saying About You When You’re Not In The Room — And What You Can Do To Influence It

Leadership, “Reputation Matters” Forbes, April 4, 2016

When you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu, former Governor of Texas Ann Richards used to say. She may have been referring to politics, but this is equally true in the worlds of business, academia, and nonprofits.

The biggest decisions about your career are often made when you’re not in the room. Whether it’s a decision about if you’ll be hired, promoted, or fired; whether you are put forth by a headhunter to a selection committee and then asked to join a corporate board or become a university trustee; whether you make Managing Director or are passed over; are awarded tenure; or offered the CEO slot, your professional fate is often determined in closed rooms where people are talking about – and evaluating – you, without the benefit of your input. […read more]

Advice To Martin Shkreli: 9 Ways To Stop Being The Most Hated Man On The Planet

Leadership, “Reputation Matters” Forbes, February 8, 2016

We all have a little Martin Shkreli in us. That unrepentant 2-year-old voice we’ve spent a lifetime burying deep within, every so often comes screeching out: I won’t be good; I don’t want to do what everyone tells me to do; Nobody understands me; I won’t be quiet or go to my room, I’m just going to wail – so there.

And we all, occasionally, wish we could let our worst natures out at work: Congress, you’re imbeciles; Boss, you’re wrong – and a jerk – and I quit; Colleagues, stop pandering to the boss and get a life; Shareholders, you are SO gullible…

Perhaps this is why we are so fascinated by Shkreli’s shenanigans – if you can call moves to raise a life-saving drug from $13.50 a pill to $750 a shenanigan. But he’s young and a little cute, and we keep feeling that, unlike Donald Trump, there may be some hope left for this guy if he can just get his head on straight. […read more]

Thought Leadership–Forbes “Reputation Matters”

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