I’ve let people go.
I’ve said “no” when someone really wanted a “yes.”
I’ve told my team that the business was struggling.
It’s natural to want to delay delivering bad news.
We put it off because we care. Because we don’t want to hurt people.
But the truth is, it’s never going to be easy, no matter how much you delay.
You’ll probably find yourself delaying because you “need more time to prepare what you’re going to say”. Most of the time that is bullshit.
Stop searching for a way to deliver bad news that won’t hurt (for them and you).
It’s going to suck. Accept it and just do your best
You should prepare. But don’t overdo it, and don’t use it as an excuse for avoiding doing the hard thing.
Here’s some practical advice that I’ve learnt to help with this:
- Decide when the news must be delivered, and stick to that deadline. This prevents unnecessary delay.
- Prepare as best you can within that timeframe. Write a script or key points to follow. Rehearse what you plan to say.
- Accept that it’s going to suck, and there’s nothing you can do to change that. Your goal is not about avoiding discomfort; it’s about handling the news with honesty and integrity.
This post was inspired by a recent episode of the Diary of a CEO podcast with Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph. As Marc says:
Let’s hope that if you’re a manager, [delivering bad news] is the hardest thing you ever have to do.
Marc Randolph, Netflix co-founder
