Unsure of how to break bad news to your team members? Here are five ways you can make the difficult conversation easier on yourself and others.
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Everybody loves being the good guy. It comes as no surprise therefore that people try to avoid being the bearer of bad news. Unfortunately leaders can't escape from this for too long. There comes a time in every leader's life where they have to convey a difficult news to their people. Fortunately, there are some ways in which a leader can make the ordeal easier, both for themselves and the members of their team.
1) Be prepared
Do not walk into the room thinking you will be able to make it up as you go along. Neither should you come armed with a script. However, it is a good idea to make notes of the gist of what you what to convey. This will ensure that you cover everything that you intended to say.
2) Be transparent
Do not try to set up a meeting for an unrelated reason and introduce this conversation under another pretext. Be honest about the purpose of the meeting and be forthcoming about what you intend to achieve through it. Invite your team member to do the same.
3) Be empathetic
By being empathetic, you are improving your chances of having a productive conversation with constructive inputs and feedback. While you must think about the issue from your perspective, you also need to think about what the issue is from their perspective.
4) Be timely
In our earlier articles, we have already underscored the importance of giving specific and timely feedback. This also holds true for difficult conversations. Do not delay breaking the news by waiting for the 'right time' - there won't ever be a right time - especially if you would rather have them hear it from you than the office grapevine. By conveying the news in a timely manner, you also allow them ample time to recover or plan their next steps.
5) Be compassionate
Carry out the conversation in a compassionate manner. Be perceptive to their needs & responses so that you can also respond accordingly. Do not play victim or deflect blame. Listen actively and project the right attitude during the conversation.
Difficult conversations are unpleasant for everyone but there are a part of a leader's life. It gets especially difficult when the news is not taken well. However, if you play your part well you can make it more palatable for the other party. At the end of the conversation, take some time to reflect on how it went, and what you could have done better. This introspection will prove to be useful to handle your next difficult conversation like a boss.
Questions for Reflection
When conveying difficult news to a group of people, do you do it individually or with everyone present? Why?
What tools do you use to reflect on the conversations you held?
