’Tis the Season…to Ghostwrite the C-Suite
TL;DR:
’Tis the season…to write the “inspirational” C-suite holiday message that everyone knows the C-suite didn’t actually write. Here’s how to make it sound human, land well, and reflect your leaders without selling your soul (or your voice).
I’ve been ghostwriting for executives since my very first corporate job at 23—blogs, all-hands scripts, LinkedIn musings, you name it. And of course: the infamous end-of-year holiday letter.
You know the one.
That heartfelt, reflective, rally-the-troops message that’s supposed to make people feel appreciated, energized, and ready to not drink the second glass of free wine at the holiday party because “we’re finishing strong.”
One of the funniest parts of being an internal comms pro this time of year is that you’re often writing your own holiday appreciation letter—sometimes the very one that’s delivered with your bonus check.
Case in point: early-ish in my career, I wrote the CEO’s holiday letter. My supervisor had no idea. (This was especially entertaining because I was the only copywriter on the team…so who exactly did she think wrote it? <laughs in festive corporate>)
As part of the appreciation ritual, supervisors personally handed out the letters and checks. I’ll never forget my supervisor beaming with pride as she handed me “my” note of gratitude…that I myself had written. If only she knew.
So if you, too, are drafting this year’s holiday masterpiece, here are a few practical, psychology-informed tips to help you ghostwrite something that actually lands.
4 Ways to Make This Year’s C-Suite Message Actually Land
1. Write with yourself in mind
If you’re an employee, you’re part of the audience.
What do you need to hear?
What concerns or emotional undercurrents are you picking up across the organization?
What achievements haven’t been acknowledged enough?
Anchor the message in that—because that’s what people will feel.
2. Don’t sugar-coat if your leaders are usually…not sugary
A warm, glowing, “we’re all one big family” message from a leader who’s otherwise colder than a conference room in January?
It’s jarring. And employees can smell inauthenticity from a mile away.
Aim for polished but consistent with how the leader normally communicates. Familiar tone → believable message.
3. Experiment with the format
The standard emailed letter works, but there’s room to play:
A short voice note
A voiceover paired with animation
A round-robin video where execs each deliver a line
A brief “year in review” clip with the message woven in
Choose whatever your executives can realistically deliver without tanking their credibility.
4. Use a simple message formula (when in doubt)
A reliable structure that works across industries:
Gratitude + specific recognitions
A quick reflection on the year
A look ahead to what they’re hopeful for
A well-being reminder or sincere thank-you
Customize it based on your culture, but when you’re stuck, this formula will get you 80% of the way there.
If you want a deeper dive into mastering executive ghostwriting—including building trust, capturing voice, surviving the revision rounds, and elevating yourself as a strategic partner—check out this past article.
