[kevsim]

The leaders I've had who have been the best at delivering bad news are the ones that have been decisive and clear about the direction we're heading all along. If a "leader" who is rarely visible and who doesn't actually _lead_ by setting a clear direction and taking decisive action for the company gets up to give bad news, it's going to be a train wreck. If a leader who has been transparent, decisive and clear all along gets up to deliver bad news, the result is often very different.

Part of the reason is the trust that has already been built and part of the reason is that they can give a clear path forward and actually get people onboard (or at least make the justification believable).