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Imagine you’re the CEO of a growing, fast-paced organization. You’ve built your business from the ground up, and you’re incredibly proud of the community you’ve created and the work you’re doing. Most days, you feel confident in your ability to lead your team and weather whatever the industry throws at you.

But today feels different.

The mood in your office is tense. You notice the stress radiating from your colleagues’ desks and the whispers passing between co-workers and clients. Their concerns all seem to lead back to the same place: the Internet.

You open X. Your feed is exploding with critiques. You check Facebook—heated debates flood your notifications. You read an opinion piece that dissects your organization’s every move ruthlessly. 

Suddenly, everyone has something to say, and each voice is vying for the spotlight. The noise is deafening. In the heat of the moment, it feels like the whole world is out to expose you for something you’re not guilty of. With each passing day, the voices feel louder, and amid the fog of public opinion, the path to success feels more distant than ever. 

In times like these – when facing criticism and public debate – Miller Ink CEO Nathan Miller offers a simple piece of advice: ignore the noise.

It’s easier said than done, but it works. In the fast-paced world of modern communications, the most effective way to keep critics from defining your narrative is to move forward with intention and focus on your organization’s future.

It’s only human to feel uncomfortable and upset when you read something negative about yourself, your organization, or your brand. People have an innate desire to be accepted, and outside voices can threaten that sense of belonging. And, of course, it never feels good when it seems like the entire world is criticizing years of hard work and commitment.

Our instinct is to defend ourselves, to say, “This isn’t true!” or “Why are they saying this?” But these emotional responses, while natural, can inadvertently lend more credibility to baseless claims.

Amid today’s hyper-connected landscape, the relentless stream of critiques and commentary feels more overwhelming than ever. But before reacting, it may be worth asking: Who is actually listening? Who believes this information? Does this really change anything meaningful or move the needle?

If you, your organization, and your goals remain intact despite the criticism, then the noise might not warrant your attention. Turning your attention away from your business’s goals can cause more damage than the noise itself, and you’ll end up in a worse place than you started.

Tuning out the noise is essential to creating and maintaining sound communication strategies. Controlling the narratives requires clarity and agency. To make choices that are right for you and your organization, you must be able to take agency over the narrative you seek to create, even when outside people are trying to get in the way.

It is important to note that this strategy is for mistakes where the noise is just that—noise. Accountability is crucial when public scrutiny stems from an honest mistake or failure. That, too, requires a thoughtful communications strategy.

Understanding how to ignore the noise enables a profound commitment to integrity and strategic choices amid adversity. Focusing on what really matters rather than the chatter and gossip on the Internet will help you make better choices for your organization and yourself.

This strategy is not about avoiding criticism or silencing dissent, but ensuring that important choices remain grounded in long-term objectives instead of reactive impulses. At Miller Ink, we’ve seen first-hand how organizations can rise above the chatter by staying aligned with their mission and values. The best leaders don’t remain stressed and concerned—they take the initiative to chart clear paths forward.

Where does that strength come from? Their ability to ignore the noise.