Being the Messenger: How to Deliver Difficult News
Being an Executive Assistant involves a lot of things. We are organizers, planners, project managers, schedulers, fixers, doers, gatekeepers, and inevitably, the messenger. It’s inevitable that you will have to be the bearer of bad news at some point, or many points. And, well, it’s never fun. There are ways to minimize hard feelings and any lasting negative impact when you deliver difficult news.
Prepare What You Want to Say
When you know that you have to tell your Executive, or the team, bad news, it’s important to prepare what you want to say ahead of time. This will help you ease your nerves and be less likely to fumble your words or talk around the subject. Don’t worry about coming off too stiff or rehearsed, either. In the long run, preparing a few talking points will help the conversation go as smoothly as possible.
Communicate Openly and Directly
It is important to be prepared, and it’s equally necessary to be direct in your conversation. No one wants to hear it, but it’s even worse to be left questioning what exactly you heard after the conversation is over. When you are upfront, at least the anxiety of the unknown will be out of the way. Any opportunity to ease some anxiety or discomfort will go a long way when you have to deliver difficult information.
Have Actionable Next Steps
You just shared the unfortunate news, now what? Part of being prepared includes knowing what should possibly happen next. You’ll move the conversation forward and toward taking actionable steps. Compassion and empathy might come into play - being real and genuine will go a long way as you look to address the situation.
There’s a Time and Place
Receiving bad news is hard enough, let alone getting it in a less than ideal time or place. There’s no right time or place for you to give someone bad news, but there are better times and better places. Choose a private location where you will be able to have a dedicated conversation. Additionally, the time you pick to deliver bad news can make a big difference. Choose wisely.
The best outcome when giving bad news is for both parties to come out feeling seen, heard, and human. Being thoughtful and deliberate can make a huge difference. Keep these tips in mind the next time you have to play the role of messenger.
Author: Emma Chase
Posted by: Julia Hudson