Cuomo’s Failed Response to Scandal Provides Important Lessons

Evan Nierman, founder and CEO of Red Banyan, a public relations and crisis communications company

Departing New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo made decision-making errors in his sexual harassment scandal that previously have led to the professional demise of other high-ranking leaders and well-known people. As an educated, successful person, Cuomo should have been able to recognize and avoid his missteps. Yet even intelligent and accomplished people have shockingly bad blind spots.

They also can develop mindsets that are detached from wisdom, effective risk management and well-being. Surprisingly common is that when people or organizations walk themselves right into scandals or crisis, they either stubbornly or clumsily make matters worse for themselves and those around them due to mental blocks and the ineffectiveness of their communications behavior.

Such it was with Cuomo’s resignation speech, shy on emotional intelligence, which focused more on deflection and partial regret than it showed sincerity of remorse and pain for unprofessional, unethical judgment and poor behavior.

“Cuomo made some very bad decisions in terms of how he communicated following the release of the AG (attorney general’s) report,” says Evan Nierman, founder and CEO of Red Banyan, a public relations, strategic communications and crisis public relations company.

“He called out one alleged victim by name and tried to justify asking inappropriate questions about her dating life by saying he was trying to help her through her trauma, since someone in his family had been assaulted. That explanation came off as ridiculous, tone deaf and offensive.”

Cuomo insisted that being a caring person is his nature yet Nierman isn’t buying it anymore than critics believe it either.

“Regardless of his intentions, Cuomo seemed to be oblivious to the fact that bosses should not be quizzing their subordinates about their love lives,” Nierman says.

Cuomo’s speech was not well thought out. It was ill-advised, self-absorbed commentary. Cuomo simply did not realize how his words would be interpreted. They made sense to him emotionally, yet they there was never a chance they would play well in the media or in the minds of the women he was speaking about and to many in the public. All through his scandal, Cuomo significantly compounded the trouble and hurt for the women, with additional damage to his name, reputation, job security and future aspirations.

His poor decision-making picked up momentum, as if often does with people who defend themselves with negative emotions, when he tried to prove his behavior was not a negative. Nierman, who authored Crisis Averted, recognized the governor’s attempts at lawyering his defense.

“He also sought to push back against sexual assault allegations by showcasing a huge number of photos of him and other politicians hugging and kissing people,” Nierman says. “Most people see a difference in inappropriate sexual contact and leaders comforting or embracing constituents in times of sadness or happiness. Cuomo sought to position himself as some sort of ‘hugger-in-chief,’ and it invited ridicule.”

Cuomo’s frustration, anger or resentment that he felt was transparent, as it bled into his communication. That was both preventable and problematic for how he would be experienced, perceived and judged. He didn’t have to take the approach of pleading ignorance and excuse-making. Processing and regulating his emotions was a battle and it showed, as what he was saying didn’t closely align with what he knew he should be communicating — and tried, unsuccessfully. This led to disturbing contradictions.

"The governor at times appeared to be blaming the victims, which is a guaranteed way to alienate many people who may already be predisposed to judge you harshly,” Nierman says, explaining further, “During his resignation speech, he repeatedly said that he took full responsibility, but then blamed the political climate, the press, and changing definitions of acceptable behavior that he didn’t fully understand or appreciate.”

That didn’t help the women who stepped forward feel heard, understood and respected. It didn’t impress the media much and disappointed many in Cuomo’s political party. His speech did little to help him moving forward. It did not show the media, public and many voters a leader who is skilled at owning errors with humility and motivation to implement the urgent, necessary corrective measures, regardless of how uncomfortable or painful.

“It’s not full responsibility if you surround your mea culpa with caveats and qualifiers,” Nierman says. “Also, Cuomo’s attempt to assert that he completely disagreed with the findings and felt they were untrue and unfair, but was resigning in order to best serve New Yorkers, did not play well.”

What the governor could have done instead that would have proven far more respected, impressive and effective was conduct sufficient stress management to gain clarity of what needed to be done, regardless of whether he wanted to do it or not, be less reactive and defensive and focus on honesty.

“Cuomo could have spent more time apologizing for crossing the line with women, including ones who were in his employ,” Nierman says. “Instead, he played the role of victim, which will probably harm his credibility in the long run.  People will remember the defiant tone and his absurd hugging montage and consider them proof that he wasn’t fully taking responsibility and that he never fully admitted or asked for forgiveness for past misdeeds.”

The questions in scandals, and professional and personal crises are what is learned, if anything, by the people involved in them and how morally and successfully will they move forward. Regarding Cuomo, Nierman is not too optimistic that he is predisposed to introspection and personally developing.

“It is hard to imagine a hard-driving, combative, three-term governor with extensive executive experience accepting the idea that he needs to learn from this experience,” Nierman says. “My guess is that he probably feels like he already chose the wisest path forward. It will be interesting to see if he attempts any sort of return to public life after such a drawn out and negative end to his career.”

Maybe Cuomo won’t learn a lesson that other people, especially those in power, can learn.

“A warning has gone out to other politicians that they should strenuously avoid any types of behaviors that involve physical contact with employees or conversations about their dating behaviors,” Nierman says. “Another lesson to internalize is that sometimes it is far more advisable to make a swift exit than to draw out the inevitable resignation process.”

Will Cuomo overcome the stain on his name and reputation to again chase his political, power and financial aspirations?

“It would be incredibly surprising to see Cuomo make any future attempt at elected office,” Nierman says. “He is presently radioactive, given that members of his own party were prepared to impeach him and were vocal in calling for his resignation.”

“He made a lot of money from his last book deal so perhaps he should write another one focused on this latest saga. Then he could enjoy the millions of dollars raked in from the advances and focus on other pursuits.”