The dos and don’ts of sharing bad news

Bad stuff happens.

You have to close a store, you have to downsize, it’s time for a major restructuring. And this is going to be something which shakes the confidence of your employees. So you spend some sleepless nights trying to figure out how to approach the announcement.

I’ve been on both sides of this, and have come to realize that there are some fundamental principles which can help you navigate these treacherous waters.

First, realize that you’ve had more time to adjust to this than they have. You’ve had weeks, perhaps even months, to adapt to the new reality. Emotional journeys take…