As we watch the fallout of the banking crisis transpire, the fear has no doubt set in for many Americans. Will I lose my job or home? Will I be able to retire in the near future? How will I fill my gas tank? – just a few of the several difficult questions running through the minds of many. In my opinion, during times of crisis, the role of the communicator is one of the most important positions within a company, aside from the CEO of course!

Perhaps, we as communicators have it easier nowadays with the prevalence of the Internet. Creating vehicles that foster two-way communication are easy to pull together and are great tools to gauge what’s on the minds of employees. However, don’t let these tools deter you away from face-to-face meetings. There is still something powerful and valuable in having the CEO speak to the workforce. Not only does it position the CEO as a leader during this challenging time, but the people get to hear directly from him/her, and more importantly, have the opportunity to ask questions. Even if there isn’t much information to share, it’s still important to start the conversation to help calm the fears.

How has your company communicated the state of the economy? Do you think our economy has hit rock bottom?