3. Composing Effective Negative Messages Use the indirect pattern when you need to soften or delay bad news until after an explanation is given. Understanding the four components of the indirect pattern will help you craft messages that convey empathy, present reasons, cushion bad news, and close pleasantly. What buffering technique are you using if you show in your opening that you care and are concerned? Facts Best news Understanding Apologies are often part of bad news messages. Read the following scenario, and answer the following question. A coworker tells you that she put the wrong meeting date in a recent e-mail to an investor; subsequently, the investor missed the meeting. She wants to draft an apology letter and asks for your advice. What tips can you give her? Check all that apply. Accept responsibility. Apologize sincerely. Make a promise that it won’t happen again. Deny responsibility.

In order to convey bad news, if you tend to open the message by using words that would show care and concern, you are conveying empathy through your message.

In the second part of the question, if the coworker has made a genuine mistake which is obvious and cannot be dodged and most necessarily can be tracked back, it would be a good idea for her that she apologizes for her mistakes and makes a promise to not do it again. If she denies responsibility of something so obvious, she can easily lose credibility which can lead to lay off as well.