Negative Messages
« Previous EntriesDelivering Bad News Gently
Thursday, August 26th, 2010Although PRowl Public Relations staff members may be students now, we all hope to achieve success in our professional lives in the future. With that success will come growth and career satisfaction (or so is the plan), but as we continue climbing the ladder it is almost inevitable that we will have to deliver bad [...]
The Good News About Bad News: Openness Counts
Monday, August 23rd, 2010Employees want open communication from their bosses, particularly in bad times. Surprise, surprise. Well, don’t just slough that off: Being kept in the loop translates into increased commitment and good will among the staff. View the original here.
Making Bad News Easier to Swallow
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010Many managers make the mistake of assuming that there is a way to “soften the blow” — to make bad news feel better. They use words that express their personal regret (“I’m sorry … I wish there was another option”) or imply that forces beyond their control are causing their actions (“We are a victim [...]
Ten Things to Leave Out of a Resignation Letter
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010You might think it’s fairly obvious that certain sentiments should never be included in a letter of resignation. But you might be surprised at what some people think is acceptable to include in this final communication between employer and employee. View the original here.
Electronic Media: Four Considerations for Bad-News Bearers
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010Communicating negative information to subordinates is one of the more discomforting managerial responsibilities. Yet managers frequently have to make tough decisions which sometimes result in unfavorable outcomes for subordinates. Managers may be lured into using electronic media to distance themselves from the victim(s) of the bad news. A consequence of this choice may be more [...]
How to Orally Deliver Bad-News Messages
Monday, March 1st, 2010Download this PDF file Unpleasant news is too important to “wing it.” Take time to deliver it in an honest, sensitive manner. Prepare ahead and put yourself in the other person’s shoes. By delivering the message with tact and kindness, you maintain the relationship and leave a positive impression in the worst of times.
The Need for News–Even Bad News
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010Employees thrive when information flows freely and seize up or become distracted when uncertainty replaces understanding. In fact, according to a study published in the Journal of Psychological Science, people who are mildly neurotic (and let’s face it, who isn’t mildly neurotic?) are more stressed by uncertainty than by a clearly negative outcome. So, how [...]
Five Key Things to Communicate in a Post-Layoff Employee Meeting
Thursday, February 4th, 2010It’s one of the most somber meetings in business. With more and more companies laying off unprecedented numbers of workers, many firms are choosing to hold a town hall meeting with the remaining employees the day after the big announcement. While such gatherings have all the levity of a funeral, they’re an increasingly important way [...]
Grey's Anatomy Shows How Not to Communicate in Times of Change
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010Most Thursdays, several women from my circle of friends get together to watch Grey’s Anatomy, the ABC dramedy about a team of surgeons at a fictional Seattle hospital. While I enjoy these weekly gatherings as a time to relax and think about life outside work, a recent episode (Oct. 1) illustrated exactly how NOT to [...]
Ten Things Not to Say When Firing an Employee
Monday, December 7th, 2009Job cutting is never easy, but it often becomes progressively harder as we go deeper into an organization. At the beginning, employers may be able to lay off only weak employees they might have considered letting go anyway. While these weak performers are human beings worthy of dignity and respect, we can make ourselves feel [...]
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