Management Tip of the Day: The Right Way to Give Your Boss Bad News

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile JANUARY 28, 2013 The Right Way to Give Your Boss Bad News No one likes a difficult conversation with the boss, but it can be a valuable tool for building a trusting relationship. Try these four steps the next time you need to share upsetting news: Describe the problem. Provide a general overview and show the specific impact it has on your work and the company's goals. Identify your solution. Explain how you've already tried to solve the problem and what you've learned from those attempts. Recommend a specific approach, along with alternatives to give your manager options. Discuss the benefits. Focus on concrete examples of how your idea will succeed. If you have tested your approach on a small scale with good results, share that information. Accept responsibility. Demonstrate your commitment to ensuring success. Work with your manager to develop a final action plan. Today's Management Tip was adapted from the HBR Guide to Managing Up and Across. Buy the book and learn how to manage people who don't report to you » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT HBR Guide to Managing Up and Across Ebook Now Available Are your working relationships working against you? To achieve your goals and get ahead, you need to rally people behind you and your ideas. But how do you do that when you lack formal authority? Or when you have a boss who gets in your way? Or when you're juggling others' needs at the expense of your own? By managing up, down, and across the organization. Your success depends on it, whether you're a young professional or an experienced leader. The HBR Guide to Managing Up and Across will help you advance your agenda — and your career — with smarter networking, build relationships, persuade decision makers, collaborate more effectively and much more. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS Stop Surfing the Internet Now Keep Your Audience Engaged By Sharing the Stage Know What Makes Your Company Special Make Emotional Connections with Your Employees Job Seekers: Social Media Is Your Friend Grab Senior Executives' Attention When You Present 3 Ways to Battle E-mail Overload Stand Out in Your Interview Strengthen Your Network with Shared Activities Ask for Feedback Before Taking That Job All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's 10 Must Reads Boxed Set HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations HBR Guide to Better Business Writing HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing Mobile ManageMentor Powered by the proven content of Harvard ManageMentor™ iTunes >> Android >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2013 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)