Q2 Chaos and the 90 Day Review


Author: OCR March 28, 2025 Duration: 19:18
Podcast episode
Q2 Chaos and the 90 Day Review

In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll discuss the evolving role of Chief Communications Officers (CCOs) in navigating the complexities of corporate communication amidst a chaotic environment. They emphasize the necessity of conducting 90-day reviews to reset strategies, align internal and external messaging, and proactively manage crises. The conversation highlights the importance of influence mapping, understanding shifting power dynamics, and balancing high-impact execution with structural alignment to effectively shape narratives and maintain corporate reputation.

Takeaways

  • Chaos is the new normal; CCOs need structured responses.
  • High impact execution is crucial for visible wins
  • Regular assessments of stakeholder influence are necessary.
  • Not all wins are headline-grabbing; quiet wins matter too.
Topics Mentioned
Corporate Communication, CCO, 90-Day Review, Crisis Management, Strategic Alignment, Influence Mapping, Communication Strategy, Corporate Reputation, Chaos Management, Stakeholder Engagement

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Communication Breakdown
01:00 The Importance of 90-Day Reviews for CCOs
03:54 Lessons from Quarter One: Navigating Chaos
05:20 Balancing Continuity and Strategic Reset
07:42 High Impact Execution vs. Structural Alignment
09:31 Challenges of Influence Mapping
11:19 The Need for Regular Power Assessments

#CorporateCommunication #CCO #CrisisManagement #StrategicAlignment #InfluenceMapping #CommunicationStrategy #CorporateReputation #ChaosManagement #StakeholderEngagement

Communication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.
Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.
Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.

For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

More episodes

Duration: 29:33
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll analyze two very different communications moments playing out in public view. First, they examine a viral Instagram video featuring McDonald’s C…

Duration: 29:20
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll break down two parallel realities corporate communicators now have to manage at once. First, they analyze how the White House communicated the o…

Duration: 23:11
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll unpack the Supreme Court’s 6–3 ruling that last year’s emergency tariffs were illegally imposed, throwing $175 billion in collected duties into…

Duration: 28:34
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine a Bloomberg column arguing that America’s most powerful CEOs have gone conspicuously quiet in the Trump era. They unpack the idea of a “…

Duration: 27:40
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine three threads that dominated the week: U.S. Olympic athletes speaking on America while competing in Milan, the privacy backlash to Ring’…

Duration: 30:45
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two very different reputation tests playing out on a global stage. First, they unpack why the NFL’s handling of Bad Bunny’s Super…

Duration: 34:11
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll return to the topic of Minnesota to examine how corporate leaders responded after the killing of protester Alex Preti during federal immigration…

Duration: 30:51
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two very different European stages where reputation, power, and communication collide. First, they unpack Davos 2026 and what the…

Duration: 27:46
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two very different corporate communication challenges playing out in real time. First, they break down how Target is being pulled…

Duration: 28:25
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two stories where companies get assigned roles before they choose them. First, they look at U.S. oil companies caught in the wake…

Duration: 27:58
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll unpack how companies navigated a volatile year under Trump’s return to power — chasing access, dodging landmines, and managing the optics. From…

Duration: 34:05
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine the fallout from a rare, high-access Vanity Fair profile of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. What looked like unprecedented…

Duration: 24:14
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine Elon Musk’s return to the podcast circuit amid reports of a possible SpaceX IPO. They question whether Musk’s more restrained medi…

Duration: 26:05
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two distinct communication strategies playing out in the same political environment. First, they look at Costco’s decision to sue the Tr…

Duration: 34:25
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll serve up their second annual Thanksgiving roundup of the year’s biggest corporate comms stories. They revisit three defining moments: the tariff…

Logo
Select station
VOL