Disagreement is part of leadership especially in communication roles. You see risks other people don’t see yet. You’re responsible for how decisions land with the public, not just how they look in the room.

In a crisis or high-tension situation, communicators are often the emotional shock absorbers. Everyone has big feelings. You’re expected to be calm, clear, and composed.

You walk into a meeting feeling prepared…and then you get blindsided by criticism, questions, or assumptions no one shared with you beforehand. It’s frustrating. It’s embarrassing. And it can knock your confidence for days if you let it (I often do).