Talk Tip: Sharing Bad News

Q: How do I inspire my team when I'm not feeling inspired myself? Times are tough. We have an All Hands coming up and I'll bet there will be more bad news for me to share.

Delivering bad news is the hardest thing we do in business, but it has to be done. Your team is looking to you to lead them through these tough times. Here's some tips:

• Be prepared
• Be their rock
• Take care of yourself

?Be prepared

Get the facts and stick to them. Edit any talking points from your company so the words feel natural for you, and then translate them into short, key-word bullet points so you aren't tempted to read word-for-word and thus sound scripted and inauthentic. This is the minimum you should do to practice.

It is perfectly okay to ask for more information. Sometimes we hesitate to do this because we want to be "good soldiers" and not rock the boat, but you owe it to your team to have clarity. This is on top of the research on your industry and networking within the company that you should be doing regularly so you are well-informed.

There will be fallout, and you don't want it to be about your delivery. Be clear and succinct about what you can say and what you can’t. Don't speculate, betray confidences, or be dramatic. Anticipate your team’s questions and address the toughest ones in your presentation instead of waiting for Q&A.

?Be their rock

Do more than inform your team: empower them. This means giving them information they need to make their own decisions in their work life. It means explaining the Why: the decisions your company was faced with and the criteria they used to make those decisions. Help your employees see themselves in the decision-makers' shoes (which is where they could be some day). They may not agree with the decisions, but they can understand them.

People will want to vent, which is normal and healthy and even a sign of trust if they're doing it in a large forum. That said, keep in mind that you are having a group discussion. When someone asks a question that seems personal, think of how the group will relate to it and respond in the context of "we" rather than "you" or "I."

Understand that things will not be resolved after your All Hands. People need time to process. Keep up your regular communications cadence and consider adding more if needed. When you can, talk about what’s next, because it helps for people to hear their work still has meaning. Sharing bad news is hard, but it also helps people move on.

?Take care of yourself

Key to being prepared to speak is preparing yourself. This is hard on you. You may feel disappointed, angry, or just plain sad. Give yourself some grace. Take time to manage your own mental health, maybe through working out, meditation, or talking with someone you trust.

If you’re not feeling inspired, that’s okay. You don’t always have to be inspired. Please do make sure you aren’t getting jaded. Remember that emotions are contagious, which is why it’s so important for you to sort yourself out before you take the stage. It’s your job to help your team, not their job to help you.

You benefit from thinking about what’s next just as much as your team will. Your job still has meaning. You still have choices. This bad patch is part of your overall journey as a leader.

Read more Talk Tips?here