Eight Strategies to Adapt Your Voice Without Losing Your Message

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As posted on RollingStone / Culture Council
March 11, 2026
Thomas Andersen, BTA Cannabis CPA Tax, featured as a member of the RollingStone Culture Council’s Expert Panel

Leaders rarely communicate with just one audience. A single message may need to resonate with shareholders focused on returns, collaborators concerned with strategy and community members looking for authenticity and shared values. The challenge lies in tailoring your tone without diluting the mission or fragmenting the brand.

Below, Rolling Stone Culture Council members share how they adapt their communication style to connect with diverse audiences while staying anchored to a clear, consistent core message…

Keep the Purpose of Your Message Clear

I always keep the heart of the message the same and just adjust how it is said. Investors want clarity, peers want vision and the community wants to feel included. When the purpose stays clear, you can change the language without losing who you are. – Becca Brazil, Only 1 Media PR

Stay Anchored in Your Core Values

I stay anchored in my core values and adapt the delivery, not the message. Whether speaking to investors, peers or community members, I listen first, lead with clarity and meet people where they are without diluting purpose. Authentic connection happens when consistency meets cultural intelligence. – Kimberly S. Reed, Reed Development Group

Deeply Understand Your Audience First

Read the room. Know your audience. Adjust your messaging clearly and directly. Nobody likes to be BS’d, so be clear with your communication and understand who is consuming it. – Chris Eggers, CC Security Solutions

Be Intentional About Knowing How People Hear You

Communication isn’t what you say; it’s what they hear. Audience by audience, do you know how to gauge what people are hearing from you? If not, do you know how to find the right community stakeholders and subject matter experts to advise you on this? All of life is a work of translation. Give yourself permission to be intentional about it. – Jed Brewer, Good Loud Media

Focus on Honest, Polite and Professional Conversations

The core message should always remain the same, but should always be catered to your target audience, whether that is your child, your boss, your peer, your investor, your shareholder, your fan or an international pop star who is your client. In this business, it’s all about range and also respect. Truth-telling is respected, but parameters remain for honest, polite and professional conversations. – Julie Zinamon, Vataseason

Avoid Overcomplicating Your Message

Keep your messages simple. Don’t overcomplicate things, and always communicate with passion! – Marissa Andrada, Marissa Andrada

Understand the Unique Reason Each Audience Cares About Your Message

The expression “read the room” in the business context applies to knowing your readership or audience. It’s not what message I communicate; it’s how the message is delivered and received. Investors and consumers both want to be in the know about the latest brands and trends, but for entirely different reasons. The delivery of this industry insight has to be tailored to each group to be well-received. – Thomas Andersen, BTA Cannabis CPA Tax

Change How You Explain the Same Core Message

I keep the core message the same and adjust the translation. I’m not changing what I believe; I’m changing how I explain it. With investors, it’s outcomes and risk; with peers, it’s nuance; with community, it’s meaning. When you’re clear on your point of view, you can adjust the language without losing yourself and your core values. – Kristin Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC

The Rolling Stone Culture Council – an invitation-only community for Influencers, Innovators and Creatives.