Leadership, “Reputation Matters” Forbes, February 8, 2013

Snowstorms and other natural disasters have been the undoing of mayors and governors for decades.

From Michael Dukakis, governor of Massachusetts in the ’70s and ’80s, to Michael Bloomberg’s absence in a December 2011 snowstorm, when municipal leaders don’t anticipate, lead through, and follow up immediately after storm crises, their reputations can take severe hits.

Responsibility without authority is one of the worst situations a leader can face, they say in the military. And, if you think about it, snowstorms and other acts of God are the epitome of responsibility without authority. The leader has responsibility, but a lot of the authority is in the hands of nature.

How can leaders prove their mettle – or salt – as Blizzard Nemo hits today, and over the weekend? Here are eight suggestions, culled from years of crisis (man-made and God-made) advisory work. […read more]

Reputation Matters, Forbes, January 2, 2013

After a year of such spectacular reputation failures, it’s about time that we all paid some concerted attention to our own reputations, both personal and corporate.

Whether it was Joe Paterno, Apple Maps, or Congress acting irresponsibly in the face of a “fiscal cliff,” when a person or organization acts inconsistently with their established “brand,” what they have promised, or how the world sees them, that tarnish doesn’t wear off quickly. In fact it can redefine them because today as always, reputation trumps all. […read more]

Reputation Matters, Forbes, October 31, 2012

11 Rules for Communication in the Aftermath of Crisis — Davia’s latest Forbes piece for her column, Reputation Matters.

How you recover, and how you communicate during recovery – yours and others’ – can set the stage for business continuity, future growth, and customer and employee loyalty, or the exact opposite.

If you don’t mention it, you appear heartless; if you give in to it, you appear weak. That is the fine line that each one of us faces in communicating with colleagues, customers, bosses, vendors, friends and family, in the aftermath of historic hurricane Sandy – and after every major national disaster. Here are 11 suggestions that can help. […read more]

Reputation Matters, Forbes, October 29, 2012

In the face of natural disaster, denial is the enemy of the solution. Denial is the enemy of crisis preparation. Resilience and action will be the two qualities crucial to survival during Hurricane Sandy, and to a return to normalcy. Here are three tips on how to face, prepare for, and survive the damage. […read more]

Reputation Matters, Forbes, August 3, 2012

Resilience: you tell me who among us — individuals or organizations — does not need it these days. Whether overcoming economic difficulties, job dislocations, physical hardships, relationship challenges, or natural or man-made crises, we all need the ability to fight back, to overcome, and to move forward. Every so often one hero emerges whose story puts it all into perspective; who models just how it is done. Kayla Harrison is one such hero. […read more]

Reputation Matters, Forbes, July 19, 2012

Jeremy Lin has taken personal branding to the next level – by trademarking his personal brand of mass hysteria – “Linsanity.” And it’s a good thing he did, because as he moves from New York to Houston, Linsanity moves with him. Here is a primer on successful “Personal Branding.”  […read more]

Reputation Matters, Forbes, June 17, 2012

New research shows that men who have daughters are changing the business landscape for women. Regardless of how they felt before they had daughters, once they do, they are leading the way for men and organizations to acknowledge, encourage and reward women’s tremendous advances in the business and work worlds. […read more]

Reputation Matters, Forbes, May 7, 2012

“When the truth is found to be lies”…sang Grace Slick. But, she was talking about big lies, I think, not so much the tiny lies that almost everyone on the planet surrounds themselves with, as they write and rewrite their own stories. […read more]

Reputation Matters, Forbes, May 1, 2012

If you added up the market capitalization of all the corporate boards on which the 1400+ members of WomenCorporateDirectors sit, the number would be stunning. It would easily be in the trillions. […read more]