Leaders must know how to deliver bad news to employees and outside stakeholders. Whether an organization is responding to a complaint, communicating about a crisis situation, or notifying employees about a change in company policies or downsizing, its executives and managers must focus on creating an appropriate response while maintaining goodwill for the organization. This note addresses how executives can do just that. Where exactly do companies go wrong in their responses to crises? How can executives more effectively take responsibility in a disaster while at the same time crafting a positive image for the company? How can all leaders better communicate bad news of any kind?