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Breaking bad news

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Visswanathan KKN Senior Project Manager Hyderabad, India
How do you break a bad news about the project to stakeholders?

*definition of "Bad news" as unfavorable project situation such as delay, cost overrun, -ve margin, etc.
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Daniel Krompholz Principal Maintenance Systems Specialist, Asset Management| The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Jamaica, Ny, United States
Try not to sugar coat the truth...
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David Dumont PMO, Portfolio, Project Management Professional| DLJN Project Management Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Your project stakeholders should be told of project issues in calm professional matter as soon as possible. You should be prepared to tell them how you plan to rectify the situation and be clear on what help you need from them, if any. Also, you should advise your key stakeholders (i.e. Project Sponsor) of the situation in a private conversation (face to face or phone call) before you report it in a group setting such as a Project Status meeting or a Steering Committee meeting. Never blindside them by delivering the news to them in a group setting.
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1 reply by Visswanathan KKN
Oct 03, 2016 3:32 AM
Visswanathan KKN
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Thanks for the reply. I agree with your comments. The face to face or phone call private conversation is a very important one.
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Jeremy Lunsford Manager| ONEOK, Inc. Collinsville, Ok, United States
Be honest and report as soon as verified. Waiting is dishonest to the stakeholder. Get partners.

MOST OF ALL ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AS A TEAM, DO NOT BLAME!!!!
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Visswanathan KKN Senior Project Manager Hyderabad, India
Sep 29, 2016 9:06 PM
Replying to David Dumont
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Your project stakeholders should be told of project issues in calm professional matter as soon as possible. You should be prepared to tell them how you plan to rectify the situation and be clear on what help you need from them, if any. Also, you should advise your key stakeholders (i.e. Project Sponsor) of the situation in a private conversation (face to face or phone call) before you report it in a group setting such as a Project Status meeting or a Steering Committee meeting. Never blindside them by delivering the news to them in a group setting.
Thanks for the reply. I agree with your comments. The face to face or phone call private conversation is a very important one.
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Wade Harshman Scrum Master| GDIT Indianapolis, In, United States
An old saying comes to mind:
"Bad news does not get better with age."

Another quote, from a professor I once had:
"If you don't tell the truth, you diminish your personal value to the organization."

There's another, more blunt version of this quote that I can't quote here.
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Tobe Phelps Director of Digital Experience| Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, Nm, United States
There is no good way. Just tell it to them matter of fact. They will come to appreciate that there was not hesitation. If they know that you will be transparent with your status (good or bad) they will be more likely to be comfortable in the future.
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