Robert Burns wrote, "The best laid schemes o' mice and men, Gang aft a-gley." So how do you break the bad news to the boss?

1. Take a deep breath and exhale. Remind yourself that you have an opportunity to choose your actions rather than simply reacting to the current events. What initially may appear to be bad news might be the beginning of meaningful change or the next great idea for your organization. We seldom seek to improve or change the schemes and plans that are working well. The gap or conflict created between what was expected and what happened (the bad news) can provide valuable information for improvement and growth.

2. Gather data and facts about the situation. Try to suspend your assumptions and biases about what you think happened. The focus of your inquiry should be to identify and fix the problem rather than affixing blame. Seek to clearly describe what was intended and what the results were.

3. Look and listen beyond the current events and results to see if you can identify any patterns. Has this situation occurred before? What was the cycle time between the failures to achieve desired results? Have you been reacting to the events rather than discovering the underlying causes? If the event keeps repeating, it is not random.

4. Look beyond the patterns to see if you can identify any organizational, structural, or cultural causes for the results you have experienced. The systems of an organization drive the results - both intended and unintended. One definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing but expecting different results.

5. Seek to engage your boss in the process of defining the perceived problem, the possible causes, and some probable solutions. Present your findings honestly, succinctly, and with a minimum of editorial comments that might distract from resolving the situation.

Leaping to the assumption that failures and mistakes are always bad news to the boss robs an organization of valuable information. Reframing the inquiry and presentation of information toward learning and growing provides the opportunity for you, your boss, and your organization to succeed.

Learn more about this author, Richard Wilson Ph.D..
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about How to tell your boss bad news?
We want to hear your view. Write now!