Management Tip of the Day: How to Deliver Bad News to a Group

Disappointing news is never easy to deliver. Whether you are announcing that you haven't made your numbers or that there will be no bonuses this year, here are three tips for delivering bad news in a way that minimizes stress and negative impact on productivity:

1. Do it as soon as possible. Bad news travels fast. Don't sit on information — get out there and share it as soon as it's feasible.
2. Give context. Don't try to soften the information but do contextualize the news in the bigger picture. Explain the response to the situation and ask for the group's help.
3. Prepare for questions. Any engaged group of employees will want to know more. Try to anticipate the most burning questions and prepare answers that are candid and respectful of peoples' anxieties.