Chapter 5

Should bad news come first, or be softened?

Tin xấu nên nói ngay, hay rào đón trước?

The chapter's question

How do I write an apology, a refusal or bad news?

Big idea

A bad-news email must state plainly what happened before saying anything else.

In this chapter

  1. Part 5.1

    The Apology

    What must an apology email say, and in what order?

  2. Part 5.2

    Saying No

    How do I decline a request while keeping the relationship?

  3. Part 5.3

    Reporting an Incident

    What sections does an incident notice include?

  4. Part 5.4

    Rereading Before Sending

    When I am annoyed, how long do I wait before sending?

The reading for this chapter is inside Conan School

This chapter has 4 readings, with case stories and exercises. Chapter 1 of The Email Sent at Midnight is free to read right here.

Read in Conan School

Chapters of The Email Sent at Midnight

  1. 1.Is a long, thorough email really respectful?
  2. 2.Does a casual tone bring customers closer?
  3. 3.Why does a polite email lead to no action?
  4. 4.Do meeting notes belong to everyone, or the writer?
  5. 5.Should bad news come first, or be softened?