Note from my Desk: People know when their daily experience does not match the official narrative

People know when their daily experience does not match the official narrative.

I work in strategic communications for nonpartisan policy organizations, legal groups, and advocacy campaigns.

One of the biggest mistakes I see elected officials, activists, and commentators make is pretending something isn’t happening when people can see it with their own eyes.

Europe is in the middle of a major heat wave, and France is suffering through some of the highest temperatures seen in years. As temperatures climb, many French families are confronting a reality policymakers spent years downplaying: air conditioning is not a luxury when temperatures become dangerous.

The government has advised people to close their shutters, stay hydrated, and eat cold meals. Those may be useful short-term coping strategies. But they do not change the underlying reality that many homes remain poorly equipped for prolonged extreme heat.

This communications mistake is not unique to France.

American leaders spent years ignoring concerns about jobs moving overseas before many communities concluded their concerns were not being taken seriously.

Supporters of the Affordable Care Act often insisted everything was working smoothly while many self-employed Americans watched their premiums skyrocket.

Whether the issue is heat, healthcare, housing, or jobs, people know when their daily experience does not match the official narrative.

Good strategic communications starts with a simple principle: tell the truth.

The most effective leaders acknowledge reality and offer a credible path forward. People are far more willing to hear your solution when they believe you understand the problem they are experiencing.