communication

Shooting Down Ideas Is Not a Skill

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The article discusses how easily proposed ideas in meetings are often dismissed due to immediate criticism, which requires little effort compared to the imagination and courage needed to create them. It highlights that while identifying flaws is important for preservation, it does not create value, and encourages adopting a mindset that first explores an idea's potential before critiquing it, promoting constructive contributions that build up ideas rather than quickly tearing them down.

https://scottlawsonbc.com/post/shooting-down-ideas

Watch Your Words: Tim Brown’s Advice for CISOs

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Tim Brown, former CISO of SolarWinds, shared insights at RSAC 2026 about the 2020 SolarWinds supply chain attack and his personal experience as the first CISO indicted in a civil lawsuit by the SEC for alleged fraud related to cybersecurity disclosures. Brown highlighted how excessive communication and misunderstood internal language during the ensuing SEC investigation led to legal challenges, emphasizing the critical need for clear communication policies and cautious internal messaging to prevent misinterpretation and legal risks in cybersecurity incident management.

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/feature/Watch-your-words-Tim-Browns-advice-for-CISOs

5 Tips for Communicating the Value of IT

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CIOs must effectively communicate IT's business value to shift perceptions from being a cost center to a profit driver. Key strategies include: highlighting IT's impact, focusing on business outcomes rather than technical metrics, using relevant KPIs, developing storytelling skills, and framing IT as an asset builder. By translating IT achievements into relatable business language and results, CIOs can ensure stakeholders recognize IT's contributions.

https://www.cio.com/article/4137669/5-tips-for-communicating-the-value-of-it.html

Board-CISO Talks Fall Short On Strategic Cyber Risk

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95% of CISOs update boards regularly, but only 47% of directors find their risk articulation satisfactory. There's a gap in strategic clarity despite strong visibility in cyber risk discussions. CISOs often focus on technical details instead of business-oriented conversations. Trust, shared vocabulary, and aligning with board priorities are essential for effective communication. Complexity of threats is increasing, raising expectations for future risk discussions. Only 30% of boards feel their relationship with CISOs is strong, indicating a need for improved collaboration and preparation.

https://www.tradersmagazine.com/xtra/board-ciso-talks-fall-short-on-strategic-cyber-risk/

Ask Marcia: How Great Leaders (like You) Communicate

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Effective leadership communication is built on respect, which fosters learning, alignment, and better decisions. Leaders must practice deep listening, clarity of thought, audience awareness, precision with language, emotional intelligence, inquiry and dialogue, and courage and candor. These skills are essential for navigating uncertainty, complexity, and rapid change in today’s leadership landscape.

https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/mentoring-matters/2026/02/ask-marcia-how-great-leaders-you-communicate.html

8 Overused Leadership Words That Kill Executive Presence (2026 Guide)

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The article argues that overused corporate buzzwords undermine executive presence by making leaders sound generic and interchangeable—a problem exacerbated by AI tools that recycle common business language.

The eight words to avoid are: signals, erodes, trust, clarity, narrative, disrupt, robust, and shift. Each is vague or clichéd, and the author recommends replacing them with specific data, concrete decisions, and measurable outcomes. For example, instead of saying something “erodes trust,” a leader should state exactly what declined, by how much, and what's being done about it.

The core message: authority comes from specificity, not polish.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylrobinson/2026/02/12/how-to-sound-like-an-expert-leader-stop-overusing-these-8-words/

Ways a CIO Can Build and Retain Respect With C-level Colleagues

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CIOs can build and retain respect with C-level colleagues by consistently demonstrating character and competence, framing technology decisions in business terms, and being transparent about what technology can and cannot achieve. This approach fosters trust, strengthens engagement, and leads to a positive culture that drives productivity and innovation. Ultimately, respected technology leaders are viewed as colleagues and partners, contributing to strategic conversations and driving long-term initiatives.

https://www.informationweek.com/it-leadership/ways-a-cio-can-build-and-retain-respect-with-c-level-colleagues

Business Women of Fayette and Coweta Focus on Crisis Communication

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Business Women of Fayette and Coweta met for “The Connect” event, featuring speaker Tiffany Trueblood, who discussed crisis communication strategies. Key points included the importance of honesty, speed, and empathy during crises, especially in the age of social media. Trueblood emphasized that crises often rely on communication, and silence can imply guilt. She urged attendees to manage public perception effectively while remaining authentic and responsive to community concerns. Trust is built through consistent, truthful interactions.

https://thecitizen.com/2026/01/30/business-women-of-fayette-and-coweta-focus-on-crisis-communication/

Cybersecurity CEO: Is Your Company Selling Or Storytelling?

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Cybersecurity companies must transition from traditional selling to storytelling in marketing. Microsoft emphasizes this by hiring a director for narrative and storytelling, crucial for building trust and elevating its brand amid shrinking earned media. With projected cybersecurity spending reaching $522 billion in 2026, storytelling could differentiate companies. Effective narratives are more persuasive than aggressive sales tactics, as highlighted by experts like George Kurtz and Adam Keown, stressing that understanding and connecting with clients is essential for success.

https://cybersecurityventures.com/cybersecurity-ceo-is-your-company-selling-or-storytelling/

With Cyber on Execs’ Minds, CISOs Need ‘101’ Communication Skills

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CISOs must communicate cybersecurity risks simply to executives, focusing on fundamental concepts. Protiviti's Sameer Ansari emphasizes avoiding technical jargon, instead sharing contextual stories about risks and controls to ensure understanding at the C-suite level. The rising focus on cybersecurity signs it’s a crucial business strategy, necessitating integration into executive discussions and decision-making.

https://www.itbrew.com/stories/2026/01/05/with-cyber-on-execs-minds-cisos-need-101-communication-skills

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