• Home
  • Coaching
    • Executive Coaching
    • Personal Development / Life Coaching
    • Team Coaching
    • Communication Coaching
  • Programs
  • Coaches
  • Testimonials
  • Self-help Books
  • Blog
  • Contact / FAQ's
The Coaching Group of Switzerland
  • Home
  • Coaching
    • Executive Coaching
    • Personal Development / Life Coaching
    • Team Coaching
    • Communication Coaching
  • Programs
  • Coaches
  • Testimonials
  • Self-help Books
  • Blog
  • Contact / FAQ's

Coaching Blog
The Coaching Group Of Switzerland

How to Deliver Bad News Like a Pro

22/3/2018

0 Comments

 
By Andy Molinsky
​Few people like to deliver bad news. But the ability to do so with grace and compassion is an essential skill for any leader or manager. Here are some essential tips I’ve discovered based on interviews with more than 40 managers about delivering bad news in a professional and compassionate manner.
1. Prepare for the conversation. 
You never want to "wing it" when delivering bad news. The conversation can get heated and emotional. Sometimes people receiving negative news feel it's unfair. They want to fight back and argue. And as a person delivering the message, you can't let this happen. You need to control yourself in a way that diffuses a potential conflict instead of fueling the fire. You want to prepare for what you're going to say (even potentially scripting out a few opening phrases). You want to prepare for their reaction - and for your reaction to their reaction.
​2. Remind yourself why it's necessary in the first place. 
No one likes to deliver bad news. But it will be easier to do if you feel justified in delivering it. So, as much as you can, remind yourself beforehand why you're doing this. And if you weren't the original decision maker, find out how and why the decision was made, what the rationale was, and what other possibilities were considered. You want to step into the situation with a very clear sense of why what you're about to do is justified and legitimate. 
3. Be direct, but also as compassionate as you can be. 
You don't want to sugarcoat bad news, but you also don't need to be cold or robotic in delivering it. Get right to the point; explain the rationale; leave no room for misinterpretation; and be calm, present, and as compassionate as you can possibly be.
4. Think carefully about location. 
Make sure to deliver the news in a place that is private, minimizes embarrassment, and allows the other person to maintain their dignity. But at the same time, think about your own safety and well-being as well, because difficult conversations can get emotional very quickly. 
5. Don't bargain. 
Don't allow the conversation to become a negotiation when it really can't be one. When employees receive negative news, it's the most natural thing in the world to engage in a "but why?" conversation --- "But why do you have to do this?"... "But why is this necessary?"... "But why does it have to be me?". Assuming this truly is a message you have to deliver, you can't fall into this trap of the "but why" conversation and stray from your message. 
In the end, we all want to deliver bad news with dignity and respect. And with these tips in mind, you'll have a good chance of achieving that goal.

Contact us for a free introductory session.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Blog Home

    ​Self-Help Book / Personal Development
    by Suzie Doscher
    3
    rd Edition

    Picture
    Buy your book at Amazon
    BALANCE - offers you support  in life's difficult moments. 
    This book is about change and finding balance in life. Full of self-coaching exercises to help you learn and grow.

    Available in Paperback and Kindle at Amazon stores worldwide
    Audiobook narrated by Suzie Doscher on Amazon, Audible or iTunes

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Balance
    Business Coach In Lausanne
    Business Coach Zurich
    Coaching
    Coaching In Lausanne
    Coaching In Zurich
    Coaching Switzerland
    Coaching Switzerlandd
    Communication
    Core Values
    Covid 19
    Covid- 19
    Davide Costella
    Effectiveness
    Emotional Intelligence
    Empowerment
    Executive Coach
    Executive Coaching In Zurich
    Happiness
    Joy
    Leadership
    Life Coaching
    Life Coach Zurich
    Mindfulness
    Motivation
    Networking
    Neuroscience
    New Years Resolutions 2019
    Organizational Culture
    Other
    Pandemic
    Personal Development
    Seb Jauslin
    Start Ups
    Staying Focused
    Susan Begeman Steiner
    Suzie Doscher
    Team Coaching
    Virtual Coaching

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013

Contact info:


Suzie Doscher
Executive Coach for Self Development
​
Email Suzie
​Phone: + 41 43 443 59 54
www.suziedoscher.com
Linktree
Susan Steiner
Executive Coach
Team Coaching / Team Facilitation

​Email Susan
​Phone: + 41 78 798 83 99
www.sbsteinercoaching.com
Davide Costella
Communication Coaching
​NLP Coach

Email Davide
​Phone: +41 76 358 37 28
www.davidecostella.com
Seb Jauslin
Executive Coach for Daring Leaders and Lawyers 

​Email Seb
Phone: +41 76 202 01 13
​www.sebjauslin.com
Linktree

Naomi Wernecke
Personal Development and Life Coach

Email Naomi
Phone: +41 76 830 67 15 
www.werneckecoaching.com


  • Home
  • Coaching
    • Executive Coaching
    • Personal Development / Life Coaching
    • Team Coaching
    • Communication Coaching
  • Programs
  • Coaches
  • Testimonials
  • Self-help Books
  • Blog
  • Contact / FAQ's