Bad News Doesn't Get Better with Time

There’s a simple saying I come back to time and time again when coaching leaders: Bad news doesn’t get better with time.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t enjoy conflict.

There’s been far too many times in my life that I’ve stalled, I’ve sugarcoated, and I’ve hoped the problem would fix itself.

Whether it’s giving hard feedback, calling out a mistake, or confronting an issue, the temptation is always the same: wait. Here’s the hard truth:

‍Bad news ignored becomes worse news later.

I’ve written before about the difference between cows and buffalo when storms roll in. Cows try to outrun the storm, only prolonging their pain. Buffalo, on the other hand, charge directly into it. By facing the storm head-on, they get through it quicker.

Leadership is the same. The fastest way through is head-on. When we avoid delivering tough messages, we’re not sparing people pain, we’re prolonging it. And usually, we’re compounding it.

Think about it:

• A team member isn’t performing.
• A client relationship is unraveling.
• There’s tension in the room no one wants to name.

Waiting doesn’t make these problems go away; it allows them to fester.

Here’s what happens when you address tough issues directly and with compassion:

1. You build trust.
   People don’t want a leader who hides from the truth. They respect someone who will say what needs to be said with honesty and clarity.
2. You protect team culture.
   Unaddressed conflict erodes morale. When you handle problems early, you prevent resentment from spreading and keep your culture healthy.
3. You give people a chance to improve.
   Feedback, even when it’s tough, is a gift. It gives people the opportunity to grow, correct course, and succeed.
4. You gain clarity faster.
   Sometimes what you fear will be a major confrontation turns out to be a simple misunderstanding. You’ll never know until you initiate the conversation.

It’s not about being harsh, it’s about being honest. You can deliver hard truths with heart. You can challenge people while still caring for them deeply. In fact, the most courageous leaders are the ones who combine truth and grace in every conversation.

Is there a tough conversation you’ve been avoiding? Courageously step into it, because bad news doesn’t get better with time.