The bad news is, most people delivering good and bad news prefer to lead with the good news.
A recent study looked at the benefits of good news/bad news order, and found that when given the choice, most news receivers would actually prefer the bad news first. However, those doling out the news tend to find it more difficult to open a meeting or a heart to heart on a sour note. The study tested out both delivery styles and found, in most cases, it’s more effective to lead with the bad.
This is especially true the bad news is about something nothing can be done about, let’s say the death of a pet or the loss of a job. It’s best to just get that out of the way and follow with some kind of good news or reassuring words. If the bad news is something that requires action or change, saving that for last will have a bigger impact.
If you’re a manager responsible for delivering news to your team, resist the bad news sandwich. Softening the bad news with good news on either side may make people feel better, but your intended message may get lost, leaving the team confused or less motivated.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Post your Wisdom