There are some events that leaders in the corporate world are not equipped to deal with. Typically it's wars and conflicts with high civilian casualties that as an individual you are utterly powerless to stop and can only observe in horror. Hatred, religion, suffering, vengeance, pain, politics and dying children. All happening at a geo-political level that the company you work for has as much influence as you do as an individual. None.
But in this modern world, most companies will have staff connected to these events , on both sides. And this is a real headache - because the leadership feels compelled to make a statement. Something that doesn't offend anyone but also provides some sort of comfort.
It's an impossible task. At best what is said is banal and at worst it can trigger a virtual staff revolt.
It's a bear trap. And shows the limits of the socially conscious firm. The leadership would almost be better of saying 'bummer. Now get back to work' than the tripe they come up with.
For a truly great response to an event like this, you have to look to the impromptu speech that Robert Kennedy gave the evening that followed the shooting of Martin Luther King. To be fair to our business leaders, not many people could do that.
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