Nobody wants to bearer of bad news. However, it’s not too far-fetched to imagine that you will need to do so at some point.
You can’t turn bad news into good, no matter how hard you try. Clever wording, tactful writing and an English grammar software can only get you so far. Regardless, you should strive to deliver bad news the best way that you can, clearly detailing its scope without making it sound worse.
The introduction is crucial in relaying bad news . Because it sets the tone and the context of the writing, it will pave the way to how the news is eventually received. As a guideline, it’s recommended to lead off stating something positive before jumping off with word of the negative event. A good idea is to describe what part of the process went well or something more upbeat to look forward to in the future.
Only after you’ve laid the context and given the positive angle should you begin detailing the negative event. The idea is to put it in the middle as part of a complete document, instead of being the sole message itself. After relaying the bad news, follow it up with potential remedies, lessons for the future and possible courses of action.
Bad news is one thing. Dwelling on it is what makes reading them bad. If you put them in the proper context (as a small hitch on the road), then you leave the reader feeling hopeful and more positive, while being completely honest about the unfortunate circumstances.
Tags: bad news, writing bad news
