Delivering Negative News

Delivering Negative News

Avoiding Legal LiabilitiesAvoiding Legal Liabilities

OverviewOverview

• Why?• Goals in Communicating Bad

news• Strategies• The “Indirect Pattern”• 3 Causes of Legal Problems• Q&A

• Why?• Goals in Communicating Bad

news• Strategies• The “Indirect Pattern”• 3 Causes of Legal Problems• Q&A

Goals in Communicating Bad News

Goals in Communicating Bad News

• Acceptance

• Positive Image• Message Clarity• Protect

• Acceptance

• Positive Image• Message Clarity• Protect

StrategiesStrategies

• The Indirect Pattern

• The Direct Pattern

• The Indirect Pattern

• The Direct Pattern

The Indirect PatternThe Indirect Pattern

• Shows sensitivity to your reader

• Allows you to keep the reader’s attention till you can explain the reasons

• Consists of four parts• The most important part is the

Explanation

• Shows sensitivity to your reader

• Allows you to keep the reader’s attention till you can explain the reasons

• Consists of four parts• The most important part is the

Explanation

• Buffer

• Reasons

• Bad News

• Closer

• Buffer

• Reasons

• Bad News

• Closer

3 Causes of Legal Problems

3 Causes of Legal Problems

Abusive LanguageAbusive Language

• Defamation: Injury to reputation• Libel (written)

• Slander (spoken)

• Likely to result in a lawsuit if it’s…• False• Damaging to one’s good name• “Published”

• Defamation: Injury to reputation• Libel (written)

• Slander (spoken)

• Likely to result in a lawsuit if it’s…• False• Damaging to one’s good name• “Published”

Careless LanguageCareless Language

• Includes statements that could be damaging or misinterpreted

• Say only what you intend• E-mail is especially risky

• Includes statements that could be damaging or misinterpreted

• Say only what you intend• E-mail is especially risky

Good-Guy SyndromeGood-Guy Syndrome

• Saying legally dangerous things to make yourself or others feel better

• Do not admit to conditions that

may have caused damage• Even apologies may suggest

liability

• Saying legally dangerous things to make yourself or others feel better

• Do not admit to conditions that

may have caused damage• Even apologies may suggest

liability

Q & AQ & A