How to Communicate Bad News Professionally
Know your subject well., Use statistical references., Do not present points that do not support your position., Give the appearance of being intellectual., Be upbeat., Be ready for fallout.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Know your subject well.
You are going to make bad news sound like good news.
To do so effectively, you must be knowledgeable of other facts and issues that are close to the situation.
If, for example, you are presenting bad news about the deterioration of a forest due to extensive lumber harvesting, you must also know about other environmental impacts (e.g. fauna habitats).
In this approach, you will be questioned about ancillary items.
Be prepared. -
Step 2: Use statistical references.
Using numbers to back your presentation is a powerful tool.
The truth is that, if carefully prepared, statistical references (this is different from real statistics that might weigh against you) can be used to back nearly any position.
That doesn’t make the position right, but it does add power to your presentation.
It’s a Sophist approach (Sophists focus on being able to argue either side with equal effectiveness – usually categorized as individuals without regard for "truth"). , Having said that, it is possible there are points you know will be raised.
It may be desirable to diminish those points during your presentation.
If that is appropriate, do not disparage or "brush off" the opposition, but rather indicate why those opposing points are either irrelevant or incorrect.
Don’t spend a lot of time on this – the more time you take the more solidly the opposing positions will be anchored.
Address them and move on. "To address animal protectionist concerns, we have thoroughly studied the impact on local fauna and conclusively proven it to be negligible.
We will make our studies available to appropriately qualified reviewers." End of story – no questions. , You don’t have to be a Rhodes Scholar to make your point, but it’s important that the audience believes you are well versed on this, and other related subjects.
References to obscure but pertinent facts can have a powerful psychological impact. "As most of you know, the six-year-old gymnogyps mates in the early fall and our efforts are clearly sensitive to this important event."
There is a line, often crossed, between an upbeat presenter and a snake oil salesman. "Trouble with a capital ‘T’ and that rhymes with ‘P’ and that stands for pool!" Even if you are selling snake oil, you don’t want to come across that way, right now.
Remember, this is a bad news presentation. , This technique is almost always transparent on an intellectual level.
You are appealing to an immediate emotional reaction.
After that reaction fades, the hope is that your sound bites will have enough exposure to carry.
You will definitely get commentary on the "glossed over" areas.
How you handle that is not within the scope of this document. -
Step 3: Do not present points that do not support your position.
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Step 4: Give the appearance of being intellectual.
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Step 5: Be upbeat.
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Step 6: Be ready for fallout.
Detailed Guide
You are going to make bad news sound like good news.
To do so effectively, you must be knowledgeable of other facts and issues that are close to the situation.
If, for example, you are presenting bad news about the deterioration of a forest due to extensive lumber harvesting, you must also know about other environmental impacts (e.g. fauna habitats).
In this approach, you will be questioned about ancillary items.
Be prepared.
Using numbers to back your presentation is a powerful tool.
The truth is that, if carefully prepared, statistical references (this is different from real statistics that might weigh against you) can be used to back nearly any position.
That doesn’t make the position right, but it does add power to your presentation.
It’s a Sophist approach (Sophists focus on being able to argue either side with equal effectiveness – usually categorized as individuals without regard for "truth"). , Having said that, it is possible there are points you know will be raised.
It may be desirable to diminish those points during your presentation.
If that is appropriate, do not disparage or "brush off" the opposition, but rather indicate why those opposing points are either irrelevant or incorrect.
Don’t spend a lot of time on this – the more time you take the more solidly the opposing positions will be anchored.
Address them and move on. "To address animal protectionist concerns, we have thoroughly studied the impact on local fauna and conclusively proven it to be negligible.
We will make our studies available to appropriately qualified reviewers." End of story – no questions. , You don’t have to be a Rhodes Scholar to make your point, but it’s important that the audience believes you are well versed on this, and other related subjects.
References to obscure but pertinent facts can have a powerful psychological impact. "As most of you know, the six-year-old gymnogyps mates in the early fall and our efforts are clearly sensitive to this important event."
There is a line, often crossed, between an upbeat presenter and a snake oil salesman. "Trouble with a capital ‘T’ and that rhymes with ‘P’ and that stands for pool!" Even if you are selling snake oil, you don’t want to come across that way, right now.
Remember, this is a bad news presentation. , This technique is almost always transparent on an intellectual level.
You are appealing to an immediate emotional reaction.
After that reaction fades, the hope is that your sound bites will have enough exposure to carry.
You will definitely get commentary on the "glossed over" areas.
How you handle that is not within the scope of this document.
About the Author
Michelle Watson
A passionate writer with expertise in lifestyle topics. Loves sharing practical knowledge.
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