Communicating Bad News

When one is a supervisor, one of the most important aspects of the job is hiring the right people, those individuals who not only have the proper skill set but also will fit in best with the others in the office. Determining that is not always the easiest thing to do as it involves the personalities of men and women rather than their level of experience or professional achievements. That challenge aside, often one of the happiest parts of a supervisor's job is telling a person you wish to hire them. It is definitely good news. Everyone enjoys hearing good news, of course, particularly when it applies to them. In addition, people enjoy giving good news as well. Thus, the communication challenge in such instances is not all that great.

The flip side of those occasions is not so pleasant. It is those unfortunate times when a supervisor needs to tell an employee that they are being discharged. This is definitely bad news, something none of us want to hear, particularly when it applies to us. I have been witness to persons learning they were no longer wanted in ways that makes a tough situation even tougher. This is because the supervisor did a poor job of communicating it. One example: a person learned they were being removed via an e-mail that was circulated to all staff members. In the communique, new duties for staff members were outlined. That particular person was omitted. It was when they asked why that they learned they were being let-go. Ouch.

Never mind whether the person deserved to be terminated. What they did not deserve was not being told directly as well as finding out in such a public and humiliating way. If one aspires to be a manager or supervisor, then it is not enough that they have certain years of experience or reached a particular level of education. They must be effective communicators as well. This includes having the ability to sit down with a staff member in a sensitive, respectful and caring way and tell them news they do not want to hear. Lacking such sensitivity should disqualify anyone from even being considered for a supervisory position.