bad-news-delivery — independently scanned and version-tracked by SaferSkills.
SaferSkills independently audited bad-news-delivery (Agent Skill) and scored it 100/100 (green). The audit ran 55 deterministic rules across Security, Supply Chain, Maintenance, Transparency, and Community; it found 0 high-severity and 0 lower-severity findings. The full rule-by-rule trace and per-finding evidence are below. Free, methodology-open.
Findings & checks · 0 flagged
Every scanned point with the score it earned and what moved between them.
First recorded scan — no prior version to compare against.
The primary manifest — the file an agent reads to learn what this artifact does.
Deliver difficult news with clarity and respect. Stop delaying, start communicating.
People delay bad news because they fear the reaction. But delay makes everything worse:
Truth: Bad news doesn't improve with age. Clarity is kindness.
| Step | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| D | Declare | State the news in the first sentence |
| I | Inform | Give essential context (what happened, why) |
| R | Responsibility | Own your part, if any |
| E | Exit path | Offer next steps or alternatives |
| C | Check | Open for questions |
| T | Timeline | Set expectations for follow-up |
| Pattern | Example | Problem |
|---|---|---|
| Buried lede | "So I wanted to touch base about the project timeline, and there are some considerations..." | Reader anxious for 3 paragraphs |
| Over-apologizing | "I'm so so sorry, I feel terrible, I know this is awful..." | Makes it about YOUR feelings |
| Blame-shifting | "Due to circumstances beyond our control..." | Erodes trust |
| False hope | "It's not great, but maybe..." | Delays acceptance |
| Ghosting | [no response] | Worst option |
Subject: [Project] Delivery Update - New Timeline
[Name],
The [project/deliverable] will not be ready by [original date]. The new delivery date is [new date].
What happened: [Brief, honest explanation - 1-2 sentences]
What I'm doing: [Concrete actions to deliver]
Impact mitigation: [How you're reducing the damage]
I'm available to discuss this [time] if helpful. Let me know what questions you have.
[Name]Subject: Update on your application - [Role]
Hi [Name],
Thank you for interviewing for the [Role] position. After careful consideration, we've decided to move forward with another candidate.
This was a competitive process, and your [specific strength] stood out. Ultimately, we chose someone whose experience in [specific area] more closely matched our immediate needs.
[Optional: I'd encourage you to apply for future roles / I'm happy to connect you with [other opportunity]]
I appreciate the time you invested in our process.
Best,
[Name]Hey [Name],
I need to cancel our [plans] on [date]. [One sentence reason - keep it simple]
I'm sorry for the late notice. Can we reschedule for [suggest specific alternative]?
[Name]Subject: Important update to your [service] pricing
Hi [Name],
Starting [date], your [service] rate will change from [old price] to [new price].
Why: [Honest reason - costs, value addition, market adjustment]
What stays the same: [Reassure about continuity]
What's new: [If applicable, any added value]
If you have questions or want to discuss your account, reply to this email or book time here: [link]
Thank you for being a customer.
[Name]| Situation | Best Time | Worst Time |
|---|---|---|
| Work deadline miss | As soon as you know | Day of deadline |
| Rejection after interview | Within 48 hours | After 2+ weeks |
| Personal plan cancel | 24+ hours before | Day of |
| Price/policy change | 30+ days notice | Effective immediately |
| Performance feedback | Private, scheduled | Public, surprise |
If you've been sitting on bad news for more than 10 seconds of deliberation, you're already late. The discomfort you feel is a signal to act, not wait.
After delivering bad news, expect one of these responses:
| Response | Your Move |
|---|---|
| Anger | Acknowledge, don't defend. "I understand this is frustrating." |
| Questions | Answer directly, don't over-explain |
| Silence | Give space, follow up once if needed |
| Negotiation | Be clear on what's flexible and what isn't |
| Acceptance | Express appreciation, move to next steps |
Respect people enough to tell them the truth.
~30 seconds. Free. No account. Every finding cites a rule and a line of evidence.