Foundations of Negative-News Letters and Indirect Strategy

Apuntes

In business communication, delivering negative news clearly and tactfully is crucial. When crafting the body paragraph(s) of a letter, it's important to ease the disappointment by offering alternatives. In the closing paragraph, avoid reminding the reader of the negative news. Instead, end with a friendly tone and some forward-looking talk. As previously mentioned, your tone in negative-news letters is crucial. Keep the tone positive, sincere, and tactful. Avoid using negative words or coming across as preachy, cold, defensive, condescending, patronizing, or arrogant. • Subtopic: Example of a Poorly Written Negative-News Letter Now let’s look at a poorly written, indirect strategy, negative-news letter (Figure 9-11). The situation involves a ski resort and a job applicant. The ski resort has received below-average snowfall going into December, which has reduced customer traffic. As a result, it is unable to hire this job applicant at this time. Thus, we are looking at an employment rejection letter. **FIGURE 9-11: INDIRECT STRATEGY, NEGATIVE-NEWS LETTER (POORLY WRITTEN VERSION)** Sunny Valley Resort 14 Timberland Rd. Santa Fe, NM 87594 (505) 331-2424 Mr. Nicholas P. Brunsell ...