Don’t Hide Bad News in Times of Crisis

The instinct during a crisis is to suppress bad news — something that Chinese and, to a degree, the U.S. governments have done during the coronavirus epidemic. But leaders must recognize that speaking up early and often is vitally important during a fast-moving crisis. Taking the reputational hit today from the release of bad news is likely to earn — for leaders, organizations, and nations alike — dividends in the form of future reputational gain, bringing the benefits that come when internal and external constituents trust what you say and have confidence in your commitment to solving the problems that lie ahead.