Delivering News: The Art of Effective Communication
Have you ever received an announcement that there’s going to be a big meeting, and you spend the next few hours—or even days—speculating what the news might be? This is a common scenario in the workplace, and it underscores an essential truth: communication is the cornerstone of effective leadership. Whether delivering good news, bad news, or routine updates, leaders must approach these tasks with intention, transparency, and professionalism.
Types of Communication: Policy and Ownership
Leaders are often tasked with communicating decisions or policies from senior leadership. These messages may include organizational changes, new policies, or routine updates. Some of these are positive, like bonuses or new opportunities, while others may be unpopular, such as scheduling changes or layoffs.
One critical aspect of delivering news is understanding ownership. People often know whether a policy originates with their immediate supervisor or senior leadership. While some argue that employees shouldn’t differentiate between the two, ambiguity can breed distrust. Effective leaders own the decisions they communicate, regardless of personal agreement. They accept responsibility and work to implement those decisions while maintaining their team’s trust.
“Good leaders take responsibility for policies and decisions they communicate—good or bad.”
Timing is Everything
When delivering news, the timing and setting of the communication matter significantly. Should you schedule the meeting in the morning to give employees time to process the information? Or do you wait until the end of the day to limit immediate reactions? Timing can influence how the message is received and what kind of follow-up occurs.
Consider the example of my retirement announcement this year. I had to carefully plan when and how to share this news. First, I informed management so they could prepare for the transition. Together, we decided to announce my retirement to the team at the beginning of the week rather than at the end. This approach allowed time for questions, discussions, and the handover of responsibilities.
Timing your message thoughtfully shows respect for your team and enables smoother transitions, whether you’re delivering bad news or sharing exciting opportunities.
Owning the Weather: Tone and Transparency
A former boss of mine often said, “You bring the weather.” I found this concept fascinating. The idea is that your attitude and delivery significantly impact how a message is received. Leaders set the tone when they share news. If you go into a meeting and say something like, “I don’t agree with this policy, but we have to do it,” you risk undermining both the policy and your authority.
While it’s essential to support the company’s decisions, employees can often tell when a policy is unpopular. Acknowledging the difficulties while maintaining a professional stance can strike the right balance. For example:
• Undermining approach: “I don’t like this decision, but senior leadership is making us comply.”
• Professional approach: “I know this change may create challenges, but here’s why it’s happening and how we’ll navigate it as a team.”
Employees respect transparency and fairness. They can discern when their manager didn’t personally choose the policy but still supports it as part of the broader organizational goals. A good leader builds trust by communicating honestly while reinforcing the importance of alignment with company objectives.
Be in the Room Where It Happens
Effective leadership requires presence. Leaders need to be visible, engaged, and informed. As famously emphasized in the musical Hamilton, “I wanna be in the room where it happens.” Employees want to know their leader is part of the decision-making process—or at least present when critical decisions are discussed.
When leaders bring back firsthand information from these “rooms,” it lends credibility to their leadership. Attending key meetings and relaying decisions to the team demonstrates involvement and commitment. Employees are more likely to trust and support a leader who actively participates in organizational processes.
Conclusion: The Cornerstone of Leadership
Delivering news—whether it’s in a meeting, an email, or another format—is a regular and often challenging part of leadership. Great leaders understand that communication is about more than just relaying information; it’s about setting the tone, showing ownership, and earning trust.
By approaching these moments with transparency, thoughtful timing, and professionalism, leaders create an environment where employees feel informed, valued, and supported. Open communication fosters strong teams, and strong teams support their leaders—even through difficult decisions.
So, show up, deliver the news with integrity, and embrace communication as the cornerstone of your leadership journey. Your team will thank you for it.
Key Takeaways:
1. Own the message: Avoid ambiguity and take responsibility for the news, good or bad.
2. Timing matters: Deliver news thoughtfully to give employees time to process and respond.
3. Set the tone: Your attitude shapes how the message is received. Bring clarity and professionalism.
4. Be present: Engage in decision-making processes and bring back firsthand information.
By mastering the art of delivering news, you demonstrate leadership that earns trust, builds teams, and drives success.