Disappointing news can be just as hard to deliver as it is to receive. This video shares some insight on how to deliver bad news so the receiver won’t want to kill the messenger.
This video from Entrepreneur’s YouTube channel is focused on delivering disappointing news in the business world, but the tips it provides are helpful in any part of life. Whether you have to shut down somebody’s project at work, or tell a friend that you can’t go on the trip you planned together, the tips in this video can help. For example:
- You should never surprise someone with disappointing news.
- You should focus on mitigating, or eliminating, the embarrassment of whoever is receiving the news.
- You should always give a single, truthful reason for why things didn’t work out the way they wanted. In other words, get to the point.
It can also help to draw their attention to the future, instead of the past. Things didn’t go their way, but you can help reduce their overall disappointment by being supportive and motivating. Lastly, it never hurts to offer a consolation prize out of kindness, even if it’s just a cup of coffee. Nobody likes to be disappointed, so always take into consideration how you would feel on the other end.
The Dos and Don’ts of Delivering Disappointing News [Entrepreneur]
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