scattered rainbow colored string, messy, mixed

The High Cost of Mixed Messages in Communication

by Melanie Wilt, APR

In three decades of crafting messages for companies, political campaigns and crisis communications, I’ve witnessed first hand how mixed messages can derail even the most well-intentioned communications.

Whether you’re a CEO addressing shareholders, a politician speaking to constituents or simply trying to communicate effectively in your personal life, the principle is the same: mixed messages confuse your audience, undermine your credibility and often achieve the opposite of what you intended.

What Are Mixed Messages?

Mixed messages occur when the different elements of your communication – tone, content, context and intent – contradict each other or send competing signals. They create cognitive dissonance in your audience, forcing them to choose which part of your message to believe while questioning your authenticity and competence.

Mixed Messages Gone Wrong

 

Example 1: The Holiday Greeting That Wasn’t

Consider this actual Easter Tweet from President Trump that perfectly illustrates how mixed messaging can completely undermine your intended communication:

The message continues in this vein, mixing holiday well-wishes with harsh political attacks and ends with expressions of “great love, sincerity and affection” alongside calls of incompetence and fraud in the previous administration. The Problem: The greeting oscillates between extending holiday blessings and launching fierce political attacks. Readers are left confused about whether this is meant to be a unifying Easter message or a political broadside. The juxtaposition of “Happy Easter” with inflammatory rhetoric creates a jarring disconnect that undermines both the holiday sentiment and the political messaging.

 

 

Example 2: The Affair Apology

In July 2025, Andy Byron, CEO of the Cincinnati-based tech company Astronomer, became the center of a viral controversy after he was caught on a stadium “kiss cam” at a Coldplay concert with a woman later identified as the company’s HR director. The image spread quickly online, sparking speculation about an inappropriate relationship between the two executives.

@instaagraace trouble in paradise?? 👀 #coldplay #boston #coldplayconcert #kisscam #fyp ♬ original sound – grace

 

Shortly afterward, a public apology appeared on Byron’s social media accounts — but it only muddied the waters. In the statement, he acknowledged “deep regret” for the situation but simultaneously blamed the public for being interested in what he called “a private moment.” Rather than taking clear accountability, his tone came across as defensive, suggesting that the real problem wasn’t his behavior, but that people had seen it.

What makes this a perfect example of mixed messages:

  • The viral video communicated one message — a lapse in professional judgment.
  • The “apology” communicated another — contrition mixed with resentment, attempting to reframe a public act as private.

In the end, the public didn’t know what to believe: Was he sorry, angry, misunderstood, or simply caught? The result was a swirl of contradictory narratives that eroded trust and underscored how easily leaders can lose control of their message when their words and actions don’t align.

Why Mixed Messages Are So Damaging

  • Erosion of Trust: When your words and tone don’t align, audiences question your sincerity and competence.
  • Confusion Over Action: Mixed messages leave recipients unsure how to respond or what you actually want from them.
  • Reputation Damage: In our interconnected world, people scrutinize, share and mock confusing communications and these can go viral for all the wrong reasons.
  • Lost Opportunities: The contradiction buries your core message, which means the important information never reaches your audience effectively.

Five Simple Tips to Avoid Mixed Messages

Define Your Primary Objective

Before crafting any communication, ask yourself: “What is the single most important thing I want my audience to understand or do?” Everything in your message should support this objective.

Match Your Tone to Your Content

If you’re delivering difficult news, don’t wrap it in overly cheerful language. If you’re celebrating, don’t undercut it with complaints or criticism. Your emotional tone should reinforce, not contradict, your content.

Choose Your Context Carefully

A holiday message should focus on holiday themes. A business update should stick to business matters. Mixing contexts creates confusion about your priorities and intentions.

Read It Aloud (Or Have Someone Else Review)

Mixed messages often become obvious when you hear them spoken. If something sounds contradictory or confusing when read aloud, it will likely confuse your readers too.

Apply the “Headline Test”

Ask yourself: “If someone only read the headline and the conclusion of my message, would they understand my main point?” If not, you may be sending mixed signals throughout.

Clear communication isn’t about dumbing down your message. It’s about respecting your audience enough to be direct, consistent and authentic. In an era of information overload, the communicators who succeed say what they mean, mean what they say and ensure every element of their message works in harmony toward a single, clear objective.

The most powerful communications are often the simplest ones. They don’t try to be everything to everyone. They don’t hedge their bets by sending multiple messages simultaneously. They focus on one clear objective and execute with consistency and authenticity.

Your audience will thank you for the clarity. And more importantly, they’ll actually hear what you’re trying to tell them.

 

Melanie Wilt, APR, has spent three decades helping organizations communicate clearly and effectively.