Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
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Goals in Communicating
Negative News
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 3
Use the Indirect Strategy
• When the bad news is personally
upsetting
• When the bad news will provoke a
hostile reaction
• When the bad news threatens the
customer relationship
• When the bad news is
unexpected
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 4
Comparing Strategies for
Delivering Negative
News
Direct Strategy Indirect Strategy
• Bad News • Buffer
• Reasons • Reasons
• Pleasant Close • Bad News
• Pleasant Choice
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 5
Four-Part Indirect Strategy
for Bad News
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 6
What Is a Buffer?
• A device to reduce shock or pain
• A neutral, but meaningful statement
that makes the reader continue
reading
• A concise, relevant first paragraph
providing a natural transition to the
explanation that follows
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 7
Various Buffer Types
• Best news
• Compliment
• Appreciation
• Agreement
• Facts
• Understanding
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 8
Presenting the Reasons
for the Negative News
• Explain the reasons leading up to the
no clearly.
• Cite reader benefit or benefits to
others, if plausible.
• Explain the rationale behind your
company’s policy.
• Choose positive words to keep the
reader in a receptive mood.
• Show fairness and serious intent.
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 9
Other Techniques for
Cushioning the Bad News
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 10
Closing Pleasantly
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 11
Saying No to
Typical Requests and Claims
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 13
Writing Plan for Refusing Typical
Requests and Claims
Reasons
• Present valid reasons for the refusal.
• Avoid words that create a negative tone.
Bad News
• De-emphasize the bad news by using the
passive voice, accentuating the positive,
or implying a refusal.
• Suggest a compromise, alternative, or
substitute, if possible.
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 14
Writing Plan for Refusing Typical
Requests and Claims
Closing
• Strive to renew good feelings with a
positive statement.
• Avoid referring to the bad news.
• Consider including resale or sales
promotion.
• Look forward to continued
business.
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 15
© helen cingisiz/Fotolia
Dealing With Disappointed
Customers in Print
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 16
Dealing With Disappointed
Customers in Print
Explain the following:
• Why the problem occurred
• What you are doing to resolve it
• How you will prevent it from
happening again
Promote goodwill by following up
with a message that documents the
phone call or e-mail message.
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 17
Responding by
E-mail and in Hard Copy
Written messages are important
in these situations:
• When you cannot reach the customer
personally
• When you need to establish a record
of the incident
• When you wish to confirm follow-up
procedures
• When you want to promote good
relations
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 18
Why Consumers Complain Online
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 19
Responding to Negative Posts
and Reviews Online
What smart businesses do:
• Verify the situation.
• Respond quickly and
constructively.
• Consider freebies.
• Learn how to
improve.
• Accept the
inevitable.
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 20
Managing Bad News
Within Organizations
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 22
Announcing Bad News to
Employees and the
Public
• Smart organizations involved in a crisis
usually communicate the news openly.
• Managers explain the organization’s
side of the story honestly and promptly.
• Morale can be destroyed when
employees learn bad news through the
grapevine or from media.
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 23
Announcing Bad News to
Employees and the
Public
• Whenever possible, management
may want to deliver bad news
personally.
• Organizations deliver bad news
through multiple channels,
print and digital.
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 24
©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Ch. 7 / Slide 25
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