06/04/2020

Daily Buzz: How to Deliver Bad News With Empathy on Video Calls

It's happening and we need to know how to do it right

Sharing bad news with employees isn’t easy, especially when you have to do it over video call. The transition to remote work has made this difficult job even trickier.

“Whether it be financial strain, company overhauls or eliminating someone’s position, sharing this information in a professional, empathetic manner is more important than ever,” said Ashley Neal on Association Success.

First, be sensitive to the situation and understand that the recipient of the bad news may take it personally or harder than usual given today’s circumstances.

“It should be done as intimately as possible. It may be convenient to release mass information over email, but having conversations as privately as possible shows you are respectful and care for others’ comfort,” Neal said.

A video call will help with this; a phone call is not good enough when delivering bad news, Neal said. Visual communication gives you the ability to read facial expressions and body language, reducing the likelihood of miscommunication.

Be direct and to the point when giving bad news. Prepare a statement ahead of time to make sure you stay on track and share all the important details.

“Start off by explaining the purpose of your meeting: sharing bad news. Once you’ve given ample time to prepare for the revelation, begin explaining your news using short yet thorough statements,” Neal added. “Leaving the emotion out of the relaying process makes continuing to have a good relationship in the future easier.”

Please select this link to read the original article from Associations Now.