• Original address: boz.com/articles/ba…
  • Boz(Harvard grad, VP of Facebook)
  • 英 文 : Little New

I’ve had to break bad news many times in my career. For example, the project is going cold, the performance is not as expected, the product is terrible and can only get worse, and so on.

In this situation, I have seen many talented and kind leaders trying to communicate effectively. And these leaders will pass on the bad news through some speaking skills, trying to minimize the negative feelings of subordinates, so as to protect the company and even get the company back on track. Here are some speech techniques you’ve seen and even used to deliver bad news:

  1. Shift of responsibility :” Our immediate boss said…” “You all know….” Or “The situation is out of control….”
  2. Package bad news as good news :” This is good news,…. Which is good, because…..” (” We have to stop the project now, we have better business to carry out….” )
  3. Crack down on the doubters :” If you want to make this company better, get down to work.”
  4. Bury the lead [1] :” We’ve made some general changes to your health care… Blah, blah, blah… We took your health insurance away.”
  5. Drowning the bad news in a pile of details :” It’s a long story, it’s hard to tell exactly what happened.”
  6. Preemptively respond :” Thank you for understanding that! …” (Translator’s Note: The subordinate meng Bi face,what? I have? ! Did I say I understood you? !).

I understand how leaders instinctively deal with bad news like above. No one likes to be the bearer of bad news. Think selfishly: We’re all afraid of the negative reaction to bad news and the negative emotions that come with it. This is an understandable way to deal with bad news, but it ultimately bodes ill for you. If you don’t show proper respect when you tell your subordinates this, you could have unintended consequences:

  1. Your leadership credibility is permanently damaged
  2. Insulted the intelligence of the people who heard you announce it.
  3. It encourages people to see themselves as separate entities.
  4. It delays recognition and understanding of seemingly important news.
  5. It’s confusing.

Simply put, it’s not going to work.

Bad news is usually less of a problem than the fact that you don’t take responsibility for it. This worst-case outcome is very likely.

The best way to do this is to just be upfront and say, “Things have changed! This is going to have a bad effect. But we still believe we can handle it, any questions, welcome to ask questions. “the announcement of the bad news, if you’re straight, seeking truth from facts, and have empathy, although you will still be suffered from the influence of the bring to you, but the relationship between you and your team will still be intact. (translator note: can carry a pot is a good leadership, the leadership of the leadership is what? Micro words: Can attract people to want to follow you. People won’t want to follow you if you can’t carry the load.)

[1]. Bury the lead: In journalism, to open a news article with secondary or superfluous information, thus relegating the central premise(the lead, which usually occupies this position) to a later part. In journalism, the insertion of secondary or redundant information in a news story to place the central premise (usually at the beginning of the story) later in the story

PS: The translation is not authentic enough, or there are mistakes, but also hope you correct