An advantage of the direct approach for communicating bad news is that it keeps the message short.
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
Ques. 2When you're closing a message about an error that your company made, explaining the steps being taken to avoid similar mistakes in the future
A) is a bad idea, since it distracts attention from the main idea.
B) is helpful, even when those steps are not likely to make a difference.
C) should always be avoided since it acknowledges guilt.
D) can underscore the sincerity of an apology.
E) will usually result in skepticism among your peers.
Ques. 3When you deliver negative messages, you
A) should always begin with a buffer.
B) should not include reasons for the decision or information.
C) should use language that conveys respect.
D) can expect your audience to be offended.
E) should not worry about tone.
Ques. 4If you're using the direct approach to deliver a negative message,
A) save the bad news for last.
B) state the bad news at the beginning.
C) embed the bad news in a parenthetical expression.
D) subordinate the bad news in a compound sentence.
E) begin with a neutral buffer.
Ques. 5If you choose to apologize in a negative message, you should
A) phrase the apology in a conditional manner (If I have offended anyone ...).
B) imply that not all of the blame lies with you or your company.
C) be sincere and make it a true apology.
D) always demonstrate sincerity, but never accept blame.
E) always urge the reader to avoid legal action.
Ques. 6Explaining negative news in the body of your message
A) is required in all negative messages.
B) adds unnecessary verbiage to the message.
C) is guaranteed to confuse even the most conscientious readers.
D) is required for external audiences but isn't useful for internal audiences.
E) is often helpful when you're writing to an important customer.
Ques. 7What are your five main goals when delivering bad news?
What will be an ideal response?
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