Navigating the aftermath: Top 10 communication trends for 2021

Editor’s note: We are re-running the top stories of 2021 as part of our year-end countdown.

Companies and individuals are still reeling from the seismic events of 2020.

Turmoil and uncertainty continue as we embark on a similar journey this year. Every industry and every employee feel the impact. We are living in a 24/7 crisis of trust. It’s an opportunity for communicators to step up as never before and advocate for truth, transparency and empathy.

These are the principles underpinning the key communications trends for 2021.

1. Consensus building: cornerstone to success. Top-down decision making is dead. Those affected by strategies and policies—big and small—need to have a voice. Leaders are required to get constructive feedback from myriad stakeholders. Communicators, as the eyes and ears of internal and external audiences, can play a major role in sharing data and opinions that will help avoid missteps.

2. Kindness is a core competency. Never before has it been more crucial to consider the feelings and concerns of employees. In a pandemic world where workers and their families are worried about their health and financials, genuine compassion—and the actions that prove it—are non-negotiables. Communications at every turn should reflect caring and sensitivity.