Elevate Your CEO Holiday Message: Infuse Authenticity for Impact
It’s that time of year…when corporate communications spend countless hours drafting the annual CEO message, tweaking a word here or there, removing exclamation points, and trying to make the message sound different than the previous years. Sound familiar?
I recently talked with an industry colleague about the message she was developing. She’s expressed that the CEO doesn’t want to be too personal as it will make her look weak. This CEO feared that her peers in the C-suite would view more personal expression as too vulnerable and position her as soft. (Insert a deep breath here.)
I beg to differ. Exactly who is the CEO’s target audience? The C-suite or the hard-working team members? Enter the uphill battle many of us communicators face at some point in our careers. Being human does not make someone weak. It makes them relatable and expands the aptitude for trust among rank-and-file employees.
Building Trust Through Authenticity: Insights from CX Expert Jeanine Maier
I recently heard an insightful CX presentation from Jeanine Maier, VP of Consumer Experience at Kaiser Permanente. In it, she shared that trust is built through authenticity. She outlined a concept by Harvard Business School professor Francis Frei – trust results from a combination of authenticity, logic, and empathy. Here’s the Ted Talk on this topic: Frances Frei: How to build (and rebuild) trust | TED Talk
"If we can learn to trust one another more, we can have unprecedented human progress," Frei says.
Add a Touch of Authenticity to Your Holiday Message
Consider sharing a meaningful holiday memory in your CEO message. The experience could be about the magic of the holidays, a less-than-perfect celebration, or the act of caring for others less fortunate during the holidays. The possibilities are limitless. I would estimate that everyone has an authentic experience that can be relatable to business and leadership – a real experience that would not convey weakness. Authentic stories connect us.
Can you link the CEO’s experience to a value or strategic priority within the organization? For instance, if the memory is around serving others in need, perhaps explain how this relates to the organization's philanthropic support and the priority the organization places on it. Or if it is about the magic of the holidays, and CX is a foundational value, then create a bridge to illustrate how team members can create magical moments for clients- or express gratitude for the magical moments they provided for clients during the year.
Another option is to share how he/she will be spending the holidays and how they will use the time to recharge for the year ahead. Even CEOs need a break, right? It’s no secret that we are all human, and recovery is as essential as work. In this situation, authenticity and empathy for fatigue are clearly articulated.
The possibilities are limitless: Challenge the status quo of tired holiday messages – Humor and heart lend a lot to building trust.
But what if you are stuck with the same ol’ positioning…Give AI a try!
If you are stuck with a traditional Acme holiday message…give AI a try for ideas to spice up the message. Include fundamental values, mission, and strategy in your prompt. Also, include vocabulary within your organization. AI is like your office neighbor who always has clever ideas for enhancing your writing. (Disclaimer – It goes without saying, but I must say it, don’t copy and paste. Use it solely as inspiration.) Don’t forget to include tone and reading level to help build a message that will resonate with your CEO and your target audience
Let's make this holiday message unforgettable—because authenticity, humor, and heart are the ingredients of trust. Cheers to breaking free from the ordinary!
What’s inside counts.