How do you deliver bad news to key stakeholders?
Detail your approach to transparency and managing expectations effectively.
About this question
Category
Behavioral
Subcategory
Communication
Difficulty
Medium
Est. time
20 min
What this question helps you practice
This behavioral question tests how you communicate under pressure when outcomes are disappointing. A strong answer should show ownership, structured context, stakeholder empathy, and a clear path forward rather than blame or vague reassurance.
How to practice
State the situation clearly
Open with the issue, impact, affected stakeholders, and why it matters.
Own the facts and trade-offs
Separate confirmed facts from assumptions, explain causes without blame, and outline options.
Propose next steps
Share mitigation, decision asks, timeline updates, and how you will keep stakeholders informed.
Strong answer signals
Communicates early instead of waiting until the problem becomes unavoidable.
Balances honesty about impact with a credible recovery plan.
Shows empathy for stakeholder concerns while staying factual and solution-oriented.
Common mistakes
Sugarcoating the issue or hiding the real impact.
Blaming another team instead of owning the communication.
Sharing bad news without options, mitigation, or a decision path.
Ready to try it?
Practice your answer in the interactive workspace.
Keep practicing
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