How to present bad news
Question submitted from one of our members:
I have to deliver some bad news to a group of people. What is the best way to do this?
Sheri’s Response: People often talk to me about the challenge of presenting bad news. They struggle with how to be honest versus stating what the company wants them to state. Here are some suggestions to keep you focused on your audience during these difficult times.
1. Give the challenging information in small chunks using short decisive sentences. After each piece of information, immediately tell them the reasons why this change was necessary and how it will impact them directly. Make sure you have the audience’s interest in mind by verbally stating empathy.
2. After you make the challenging statements, leave plenty of time for people to vent or state their feelings. You do not have to have all the answers at that moment but you will want to demonstrate you understand their concerns.
