Do managers have a problem with hearing bad news? I know you're chuckling right now. But they really should welcome bad news with open arms.
Bad news can do the following if we let it:
- Sober us up and give us a sense of reality - We crave and worship good news because we see it as the only thing to make us happy. If you've read my blog before, you know how I feel about happiness-it's based on a choice that only you can make.
- Help us understand who is really interested in making things better - those who like to kiss ass won't be comfortable here. People who only deliver good news are not helping. Leaders who only want followers who deliver good news are drinking a poisonous cocktail.
- Help us discover our true leadership level - if you want to know how good a leader is, observe and take notes when bad news is delivered.
- Makes us question silence - a friend of mine gave his employer some bad news about a new customer and was cautioned about it. Don't know if they didn't like his tone or timing, but his employer didn't want to hear it. It made me think about all those employees that don't say anything. What do you think their level of engagement is?
- Helps us find the next breakthrough - isn't that what all organizations want?
