How to Tell Your Family an Important Announcement
Gather your family together., Politely ask for their attention., Introduce your subject., Speak to your audience., Be calm., Be ready for their reactions., Thank them and follow up.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Gather your family together.
Pick a time when people can sit down and listen.
Don't try to announce things when some of your relatives have one foot out of the door. -
Step 2: Politely ask for their attention.
Call them to sit down in a living room or kitchen, anywhere that they can get comfortable in. , Be gentle, particularly if it's a sad subject.
Try speaking with a lead point; for example, if someone in your family has died, you could say something like "I know you all loved Aunt Shauna ..."
If you've got kids in the room, don't make a difficult announcement about a very adult subject.
You may need to break the sections of your family up so that you can address them appropriately.
Make sure that younger children can understand what you're telling them (if they even need to know). , Be serene and maintain a positive vibe.
Even if it is a serious announcement, avoid being melodramatic or shocking. , If it was a sad or serious announcement, give them time to process and let their emotions out.
That will make them feel better.
If it is manageable, then ease them up by cracking a joke.
If it was a good announcement, smile so that your family does not get tense; celebrate with them as appropriate. , Thank your family for taking the time to listen to you.
If needed, follow-up later in the day or on future days to check what impact your announcement had. -
Step 3: Introduce your subject.
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Step 4: Speak to your audience.
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Step 5: Be calm.
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Step 6: Be ready for their reactions.
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Step 7: Thank them and follow up.
Detailed Guide
Pick a time when people can sit down and listen.
Don't try to announce things when some of your relatives have one foot out of the door.
Call them to sit down in a living room or kitchen, anywhere that they can get comfortable in. , Be gentle, particularly if it's a sad subject.
Try speaking with a lead point; for example, if someone in your family has died, you could say something like "I know you all loved Aunt Shauna ..."
If you've got kids in the room, don't make a difficult announcement about a very adult subject.
You may need to break the sections of your family up so that you can address them appropriately.
Make sure that younger children can understand what you're telling them (if they even need to know). , Be serene and maintain a positive vibe.
Even if it is a serious announcement, avoid being melodramatic or shocking. , If it was a sad or serious announcement, give them time to process and let their emotions out.
That will make them feel better.
If it is manageable, then ease them up by cracking a joke.
If it was a good announcement, smile so that your family does not get tense; celebrate with them as appropriate. , Thank your family for taking the time to listen to you.
If needed, follow-up later in the day or on future days to check what impact your announcement had.
About the Author
Virginia Turner
Creates helpful guides on organization to inspire and educate readers.
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