When communicating bad news, business communicators have five important goals. List and explain four of these goals


Explaining clearly and completely. Your message should be so clear that the receiver understands and, in the best case, accepts the bad news. The receiver should not have to call or write to clarify the message.

?

Projecting a professional image. You will strive to project a professional and positive image of yourself and your organization. Even when irate customers use a threatening tone or overstate their claims, you must use polite language, control your emotions, and respond with clear explanations of why a negative message was necessary.

?

Conveying empathy and sensitivity. Bad news is better accepted if it is delivered sensitively. Use language that respects the receiver and attempts to reduce bad feelings. Accepting blame, when appropriate, and apologizing go far in smoothing over negative messages. But avoid creating legal liability or responsibility for yourself or your organization.

?

Being fair. Show that the situation or decision was fair, impartial, and rational. Receivers are more likely to accept negative news if they feel they were treated fairly.

?

Maintaining friendly relations. Make an effort to include statements that show your desire to continue pleasant relations with the receiver.

?

Business

You might also like to view...

The standard costing method uses estimated costs to find product unit cost

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Business

In order to sound more positive when communicating, you should ____

A. take a deep breath before you speak B. smile before you speak C. practice what you will say D. none of the above

Business

Under Title VII, a protected class may be composed of people who share the same:

a. race b. gender c. religion d. national origin e. all of the other choices

Business

A factory owner wants his workers to produce as many widgets as they can so he pays his workers based on how many widgets they produce

However, in order to make sure that the workers do not rush and produce a large number of poorly made widgets, he checks the widgets at random at various stages of their manufacture. If a defect is found in a widget, the pay of the entire section of the factory responsible for that defect is docked. How is this factory owner seeking to solve the agency conflict problem in this case? A) by supplying incentives so the agents act in the way principal desires B) by ensuring that all workers co-operate to maximize the gains of their section C) by making the agents into principals themselves D) by maximizing the information that the principal obtains about the behavior of the agents

Business