What the 2026 Oscars, an unread speech, and 60 years of cognitive science can teach leaders about the communications decisions they make without thinking
I’ve written speeches that never reached their intended audience. Not because of deliberate negligence — but because leaders chose to speak extemporaneously, naming only the colleagues they encountered regularly while overlooking those who labored behind the scenes. The comms team that spent weeks refining messaging. The coordinator confirming logistics late into the night. The staff positioned away from the front — all heard nothing acknowledging their contributions.
This creates a quiet, expensive erosion of trust that never generates headlines yet inflicts considerable organizational damage through diminished morale and departing talent.
Brandi Richard Thompson
Former Federal Emergency Management Official and Crisis Strategist with 20+ years leading crisis response at FEMA and DHS across hurricanes, wildfires, civil unrest, and public health emergencies affecting more than 50 million people. Founder of BRComm, a strategic communications and crisis PR firm, and the author of Operation Growth: An Extraordinary Journey of Maturity, Motherhood, and Black Girl Magic. Subscribe to Courage & Crisis on Substack. Contact BRComm at brcomm.co.
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