I don’t know many leaders who like giving bad news. But part of the role of a leader is saying what needs to be said, when it needs to be said, with as much compassion as possible. If you’ve never done it, understand that the day is probably coming. It may be financial news or personnel news. Whatever it is, you can’t shy away from the moment.
Knowing what needs to be said is half the battle. Knowing how to say it is the other. Leaders must master both to keep their teams from getting worried. That’s easy to type and much harder to do. But if you’re a leader, this falls on your shoulders. How do you do it well? Here are 5 must-dos when you have tough news to deliver.
1. Provide as much clarity as possible.
A scuba diver knows it’s not ideal, and likely unsafe, to swim in murky water. Similarly, when employees are left feeling unclear about their direction at work or how to respond to office news, they probably feel underprepared and uncomfortable. That’s why leaders should always make things as clear as possible. When clarity is lacking, suspicions arise. People begin to make up answers to their own questions. Maybe you have good reasons for keeping a few details private, but try to be as open as possible by saying things like, “I’ll give you as much information as I can.” This clarity will help people see that you care about them, that you don’t want to hide things from them unnecessarily. You truly desire what’s best for your organization.
2. Remember that honesty is always best.
Be upfront with the people you’re leading to the best of your ability. It establishes trust. If you’ve just made a big announcement, it’s possible you’ll get more information to share in the future. If that’s the case, update people when you can. But giving people the truth of what you know in the moment is important. It’s the right thing to do, and your employees will be less likely to question your authenticity in the future.
3. Reassure people of what’s solid.
Nobody likes instability or the possibility that it may be coming. Reassure the people you work with about what remains firm. People will always feel uneasy when you call meetings to discuss difficult things, but if you can provide enough information to reassure them that not everything is problematic, your co-workers will be grateful, and their minds will be more at ease. This is the responsibility of a good leader.
4. Reaffirm the overall vision and mission.
Does this bad news impact the overall direction of your company, team, or organization? If the answer is no, say so. If you’re still working toward the same goal as always but just hit a bump in the road, reaffirm that your ultimate mission remains unchanged. That will steady nerves. It will offer people hope that even though one element of the process isn’t working as usual, the train is still on the tracks. If your overall destination hasn’t changed, it’s important to make sure the people you’re leading know that.
5. Remind people you’re available to talk.
After you’ve finished sharing news with the group, leave them with one final message: “My door is open. You can come talk to me whenever you’d like.” Popping out of your office, quickly delivering bad news, and then retreating back behind a closed door will leave people feeling suspicious. Remind the people you’re leading that they have the right to meet with you. It’s the mark of a good leader to invite questions, even hard ones.
What moment helped teach you how to deliver bad news? Share in a comment.
