If you’re the one who identifies a big problem for your company, don’t hide it. Tell everybody. Sounding the alarm gets the right team on board to help find the solution.
However, you don’t want to be the messenger that gets shot. Bring a solution, or at least a plan for finding a solution, when you deliver your bad news.
“I’ve just learned that our sales lead in Austria is bribing officials” is hard for any leader to hear.
“I’ve just learned that our sales lead in Austria is bribing officials, so I’ve reached out to our European law firm, we’re gathering data about customers and deals that may be impacted, and we’re working on a statement which I’ll have in an hour” goes down much better.
Not sure how to crush your next presentation? Navigate tough questions? Need some pragmatic, actionable communications advice? Consider Office Hours with Lisa, a great way to get bite-sized, personalized coaching. And there are tons of resources in poseycorp’s newsletter – subscribe here. Get some skills! Because it’s the great communicators who create the change they want to see in the world!
