Don’t Swing at Every Pitch: How to Stay Focused in a Reactive World

"The difference between reacting and responding is pause." — Travis Reindl

When everything feels urgent, it’s easy to lose sight of your strategy. Travis Reindl, SVP and Chief Communications Officer at Strada Education Foundation, shares how his team maintains clarity and focus in a world of non-stop noise, political churn, and digital distractions. This one’s a must-listen for any brand trying to navigate fast-moving narratives without losing their voice.

Here are our main three takeaways from the episode:

1. Use the Power of Pause
Before reacting, take a breath. That pause—whether five seconds or five weeks—creates space to assess impact, alignment, and resonance. Ask: Is this aligned with our brand? Is it relevant to our audience? Does it require action—or is it just noise?

2. Build a Triage Framework
Every pitch isn’t worth a swing. Travis’s team classifies issues as business as usual, situation, or crisis. They evaluate proximity to mission, urgency, and potential impact—helping them choose when to engage and when to pass.

3. Stay Anchored in Brand and Audience
In a rapidly shifting environment, consistency comes from deeply knowing your mission, values, and audience. That’s your filter. And when a relevant trend arises, use it to "engineer the pivot"—connecting current events to your core message in a meaningful way.

What You Can Do Right Now:

• Create a triage rubric to assess content opportunities and crises.

• Revisit your brand attributes and use them as a filter before responding.

• Audit your team’s time: is it strategic or reactive?

• Develop one or two “pivot” examples where current topics align with your mission.

Want more ways to keep your strategy focused?
Subscribe to Content Amplified and stay sharp with smart, real-world insights. Connect with Travis on LinkedIn or learn more at stradaeducation.org.