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Unless you are a doctor, mortician or judge, you may not be accustomed to delivering bad news. It is not a job to look forward to, but avoiding the situation will only increase your fear and anxiety, and in some situations, it will increase tension between parties or individuals. There are simple tips that you can apply to help with delivering bad news, whether you are the decision-maker or just the messenger, so that the receiver is told in the best way possible.

Consider the environment and timing

Before you deliver bad news, it is always good to choose a good environment. In many cases privacy is needed, but if you are afraid that the person may become angry or aggressive, you may want to include another in the conversation. When planning the delivery, think of a place where the receiver will be most comfortable as well as the timing. It would not be fair to interrupt someone who is about to go to a meeting with nasty information. Make sure that the person on the receiving end will also be able to digest whatever you have told them after the conversation.

Simpler, better, faster

You may not want to relay a message or piece of information, but the worst thing that you could do is prolong the agony. People are able to sense when something is wrong, so it is best to not string them along and come right out with whatever you have to say. If you are responsible, be the better person and admit to it. The more honest you are, the better it will be for you and the one on the receiving end.

When you have said what you have needed to, then the next step is to listen. Expect the person to be upset and possibly vent their unhappy feelings. If a solution can be found to the problem, suggest possible ways to fix it, but be aware that they may express dissatisfaction with your proposal. Until the person feels heard, any solution will fall on deaf ears.

Tags: advice