Transcript Delivering Bad News *The Big Bang Theory*

Gary D. Greer
City Manager, Farmers Branch, Texas
September 24th, 2009
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Delivering Bad News Poorly
Police Chief and Finance Director
 Public Works Director
 Cemetery plot
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Studied other disciplines to improve skills:
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Communications
Medical Doctors Curriculum
Military Polices
School Administration guidelines
Clergy
Mentor Ray Lundy
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Bad news is a fact of life as is good news
Not communicating bad news is not an option
The grapevine thrives when there is bad news
Open and honest communication is essential
Deliver the news in a conducive place
You can’t plan too much for the delivery of bad
news
Be sensitive but straight forward
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Study the facts
Consider your audience
Plan the process
Prepare yourself for the event
Prepare others involved in the dissemination
Rehearse the delivery
Carry out the delivery of the news
Respond to things that develop
Settle down
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Few people are good at delivering Bad News
The people who are good at display the following:
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Sincerity
Humbleness
Honesty
Straight forwardness
Compassion
Understanding
Competence
Adult to Adult communication
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Don’t put the bad news between good news
Don’t draw it out, just get it over with
Don’t be tactless, trivial, or tart
Don’t rush and leave no time for questions
afterwards
Don’t over defend the news (be quiet)
Don’t shirk the responsibility on someone else for
the news
Don’t preach or condemn
Don’t forget to understand the audience
Don’t be an “avoider”
Don’t be overly emotional
The Presentation is over..
Thank You