Delivering Bad News Training

Sometimes we need to share information that ​​​will upset, anger, worry or disappoint someone. ​Perhaps a member of the team hasn’t been performing as well as expected; you need to terminate someone’s employment; you need to tell your manager that you’re not going to meet your deadline; or perhaps you need to cancel important plans with a friend. Whatever the news might be, how we *choose* to share it makes a critical difference. If it’s delivered carelessly or unkindly it ​can​ add ​to the pain the recipient already feels, which makes a bad situation worse.

For example, back in 2021, a US-based mortgage provider hit the headlines after firing over 900 members of staff, via a group video call. During the awkward, one-way conversation, the CEO announced “If you’re on this call, you are part of the unlucky group that is being laid off. Your employment here is terminated, effective immediately”. The CEO used the call to express how *he* was personally affected by the decision that *he* had made and how difficult it was for *him* to make, but gave none of the 900 people who were now jobless a chance to express *their* feelings or to ask any questions. When a recording of the call was made public, the CEO was widely criticised, and three senior members of staff resigned.

With that being said, it's essential that bad news is delivered thoughtfully​ and skilfully​. This is a skill that should be practiced, and by providing your staff with effective training, you're helping to protect your business.