Abstract
Most communication research on bad news messages focuses on crisis communication,
where attention is often limited to image repair strategies. The authors argue that
a key indicator of an organization’s effectiveness in communicating “bad news”
messages is its organizational culture. Developing an organizational culture that values
positive organizational behavior can transform the way that “bad news” messages
are crafted and received in the workplace. In this article, the authors demonstrate
how organizational leadership and practice from the positive organizational behavior
perspective can assist with communicating “bad news” messages, particularly during
organizational crises.
Keywords
bad news messages, crisis communication, positive psychology
Introduction: The Art and
Science of “Bad News” Messages
Research on “bad news” emerges across the spectrum of communication. “Bad news”
for business appears in many forms—the announcement of layoffs, poor financial
outcomes, crises of internal or external origin, and natural disasters, among others.
The particular type of “bad news” is not at issue here but rather the communication
practices encompassing the delivery of bad news. In this article, we focus on what