Extreme Behavioral Risk Management

The 5 T's of Breaking Bad News

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The Art of Breaking Bad News

Being the bearer of bad news is never pleasant. Whether it is delivering the message at work or at home, finding the right way to share bad news can be tricky. It is known that how that news is shared can greatly affect the emotional and behavioral response of those on the receiving end. Studies around the delivery of extremely bad news, like death notifications for example, demonstrate that the way the message is delivered influences both short- and long-term reactions and recovery.

In this week's Behavioral Risk Bulletin we would like to offer some guidance in breaking bad news. These general recommendations can be applied to situations as diverse as discussing sudden and necessary changes in college plans with a son or daughter, recalibrating retirement plans with a spouse or partner or informing employees of downsizing and layoffs. What we say and how we say it can have a significant and lasting impact on the recipient. After all, you may be delivering truly life-changing news. Doing it well is important.