As PR professionals, we often laud the value of thought leadership as an effective communication and expert positioning strategy. Amplify your voice, share your ideas, build clout for your organization in the process. In general terms, there is both opportunity and need for expert voices on a variety of topics, and sharing advice is, for the most part, beneficial for increasing visibility of your expertise and building trust with your audiences. Except when it isn’t.

As communicators, we have a responsibility to understand how our words and work can contribute to bias and be considerate of how our messages can undermine the impact we’re trying to achieve. As recent social justice movements have come to the forefront, it is critical for executives and key leaders (for-profit and nonprofit) to be conscious about how they speak to and about the work they’re doing and those they serve.

We asked for your questions about how to communicate within the “new normal.” Most certainly your communication strategies need a reboot. Many of you shared the same questions with regards to communications strategy in this new environment, and we’ve answered them here.