Among the corporate craziness of corporations such as Delta Airlines, Coca-Cola, and others who risk angering a significant portion of their customer base by injecting politics into their commercial activities, we can all take a lesson from Fred Ridley, the Chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club located in Augusta, Georgia. Ridley, when confronted with the same political activism that saw Major League Baseball withdraw their All Stars Game from Atlanta, Georgia, to "protest" Georgia's new voting laws, responded perfectly to media inquiries — some of which demanded he halt his annual tournament to demonstrate his political sensitivity.
When asked if his Golf Enterprise would cancel the event or take proactive action, Ridley replied...
"The right to vote is fundamental in our democratic society. No one should be disadvantaged in exercising that right, and it is critical that all citizens have confidence in the electoral process. This is fundamental to who we are as a people.
"We realize that views and opinions on this law differ, and there have been calls for boycotts and other punitive measures. Unfortunately, those actions often impose the greatest burdens on the most vulnerable in our society. And in this case, that includes our friends and neighbors here in Augusta who are the very focus of the positive difference we are trying to make."
Then, when challenged personally about his personal beliefs...
"I believe, and I am confident, that every member of this club believes that voting is an essential fundamental right in our society and that -- as I stated, that anything that disadvantages anyone to vote is wrong and should be addressed. I'm not going to speak to the specifics of the law, but I do know that ... I think there's a resolution, and I think that resolution is going to be based on people working together and talking and having constructive dialogue because that's the way our democratic society works. And while I know you would like for us to make a proclamation on this, I just don't think that is going to be helpful to ultimately reaching a resolution."
Ridley was resolute, reasonable, and direct as he walked through the minefield of the mainstream media. A truly professional response that could have impacted negatively both personally and professionally in today's "cancel culture" environment.'
A lesson for executives, employees, and anyone else faced with a hostile, skeptical, or potentially malignant media.
Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?