If you ever watched the classic movie The Godfather, you might remember this quote: “If your car could take me to the airport, Mr. Corleone is a man who insists on hearing bad news immediately.”
The speaker, Tom Hagen—the Godfather’s lawyer and confidant—learned that holding back rough information wasn’t the best idea. “Bad news” is bad news. While we might wish that bad news never comes up, the best way to handle it is to confront it head-on. Unfortunately, we often encounter situations where bad news is slow to surface.
Why is that so?
- Embarrassment: Sometimes, bad news results from an error or omission that embarrasses the one responsible. They prefer that it goes undetected. Occasionally, it escapes notice—but more often, it doesn’t. Unreported bad news only worsens the situation over time.
- Fear: Sometimes, bad news creates fear in the person or team aware of it. They withhold information because they’re afraid of the consequences—whether someone will get in trouble, lose their job, or be demoted. Sharing the news might be painful.
Here’s why we want bad news out in a hurry:
- Truth Sets Us Free: Delaying bad news strains communication and creates pressure. The weight of unshared bad news weighs heavily on those who harbor it, and it creates an environment ripe for further issues.
- Maximizing Team Strength: One of our greatest advantages is our talented team. When a bad situation arises, having as many people as possible working together to change the narrative is key. When bad news is confined to a few, we aren’t using all our collective strength.
- Fostering Courageous Communication: Sharing bad news builds a culture of courage—a necessary ingredient for a company’s success. Once you experience how a team can come together to mitigate the impact, you learn there’s no better way forward.
On our team, everyone has made mistakes or fallen short at times. No one is exempt from needing someone to step in, offer help, and drive improvement.
We want to build a team spirit based on confidence and courage—an atmosphere where you know:
- It’s OK to ask for help.
- It’s OK to say you don’t know.
- It’s OK to say, “I’m over my head.”
- It’s OK to say, “I’m scared of what I see.
When these thoughts arise, muster your courage and step up. In fact, I insist on it.
