Communicating Negative News EffectivelyAt some point, everyone will have to deliver bad news. The bad feelings associated with this type of message can be alleviated if the receiver knows the reason for the bad news, feels the news is revealed sensitively, thinks the matter is treated seriously, and believes that the decision is fair. When applying these strategies, make sure to follow the writing process and determine whether to use a direct or an indirect pattern in your message. Read the following scenario:Your company started using shipping company two months ago. During your short relationship with a new the company, you notice that it regularly inflates its shipping rates, fails to meet scheduled deliveries, and loses packages. You decide to write a letter to them ending the business relationship. 1. What are your goals when responding to the previous scenario? A. To encourage follow-up correspondence from the receiver. B. To ensure that the company knows you are angry.C. To convey fairness.D. To avoid creating legal liability for your company.E. To make the receiver understand the bad news.2. Staying calm and using polite language while offering a clear explanation of why the negative message was necessary helps the sender to:___.A. Limit legal liability.B. Be firm in their decision.C. Project a professional image.D. Avoid apologizing.

To effectively communicate negative news to a recipient, the sender needs to clarify her goal. The goal is the purpose that she wants to achieve through the communication. There are many goals one can pursue when delivering negative news. They include avoiding further clarification, legal liability, or erroneous admission of guilt, maintaining relationships, reducing tensions, and achieving the intended outcome.