When delivering bad news honesty is the best policy
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2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
According to Brandon Smith, senior lecturer in the practice of management communication at Goizueta Business School and principal at Core Growth Partners, a growth strategy and executive development consulting firm based in Roswell, Georgia:
Timing is everything
It is important for you to be decisive and not to “beat around the proverbial bush.” When the door shuts and it’s time to give the bad news, it is best to be frank and upfront with the employee. Smith adds that it often helps to give a person a chance to process the information. Then, invite the person back into your office again to discuss the way forward.
The benefit of signalling
However, people need mental preparation time to understand and process that a strategy shift, pay cut or layoff might be on the horizon. People should receive some sort of signal or advance notice, and you need to put a transparent process in place that allows for two-way communication and conversations.
According to Daphne Schechter, a lecturer in the practice of management communication at Goizueta Business School and a principal at Schechter Consulting, a leadership and management-training consultancy based in Dunwoody, Georgia:
Don’t sugarcoat it. Give out all the facts you can and be as straightforward as possible. Allow people to vent feelings and frustrations; You also
need to be prepared to stand firm and not offer excuses for pay cuts or layoffs.
Employ verbal and non-verbal signals to get the message across. Verbal reinforcement could be simple things like noting “yes” or “that makes sense,”. Avoid saying “I understand” when delivering really bad news. (You really can’t understand how a person is feeling in a situation like that).”
Non-verbal signs also can be useful: Make eye contact whenever possible. You can choose to be silent when an employee needs to vent, or offer a head nod to acknowledge a comment at an appropriate time. Affirmation of the employee’s feelings is essential! Source: Knowledge@Emory
So you want a RAISE or a PROMOTION? H
Here’s some advice: NEVER use these phrases at work! So says Dave Willmer, the executive director of OfficeTeam.
1. “Just a quick update ... I won’t be able to finish the project that’s due tomorrow.”. “That’s not in my job description.”. “So that’s what you wanted? Whoops!” “Dave’s being a jerk. Tell him to stop.”
“I hate to say this, but Tom is the cause of the project’s failure.” “Will you be my Facebook friend?” “I didn’t think you needed to know.”.
Source: from a list he compiled for Computerworld magazine.
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