Writing Assignment 2: The Negative Message (Indirect Strategy), Part 2 (2023)

FAQs

What is the indirect approach of writing negative messages? ›

The direct approach places the negative news at the beginning of the message, while the indirect approach packages the negative news between a positive introduction, sometimes called a “buffer” or cushion, and a conclusion. Your negative message may include the rationale or reasons for the decision.

What is an example of a negative message? An example of a negative message would be an email from a boss that starts with, "I'm sorry to say that you did not get the promotion." This is a direct way of delivering bad news that could be received poorly by the person who did not get the promotion.

An explanation of the bad news is the most important part of a negative message because it prepares the reader for the refusal or denial – but it does NOT explicitly state the bad news yet.

Indirect communication examples are: sighing loudly in frustration instead of telling a person you are disappointed. rolling your eyes when you are upset but not voicing anything.

The generic organizational outline for a negative message uses the three blocks news, reasons, and goodwill and action.

The indirect approach gives you a chance to prove your points and gradually overcome your audience's reservations. By deferring the conclusions and recommendations, you imply that you've weighed the evidence objectively without prejudging the facts.

The primary goals of negative messages are to deliver the bad news respectfully, clearly, and logically and to maintain and develop goodwill with the reader.

What is an effective opening for a negative message? ›

Create a buffer statement

The first part of a negative news message, verbal or written, is a buffer statement. It provides neutral or positive information and establishes good will. It sets the tone and often serves as a cushion for the information to come.

All negative messages should be composed using the indirect plan. Trying to maintain neutrality in the opening of a negative message is unethical. Negative information may be included in the same paragraph as the explanation. One way to de-emphasize the negative inforrmation is to place it in a dependent clause.

There are three main types of negative communication: passive, aggressive and passive aggressive.

Avoid legal liability or erroneous admission of guilt or culpability. Maintain the relationship, even if a formal association is being terminated. Reduce the anxiety associated with the negative news to increase comprehension. Achieve the designated business outcome.

Indirect communication is acting out rather than directly saying what a person is thinking or feeling using facial expressions, tone of voice, and/or gestures.

A message that uses the indirect pattern effectively will begin with a buffer that creates positive feelings but does not allude to the bad news, goes on to provide reasons and explanations for the bad news, then uses cushioning techniques to soften the blow of the bad news.

When communication occurs, it typically happens in one of three ways: verbal, nonverbal and visual.

Writing is a process that can be divided into three stages: Pre-writing, drafting and the final revising stage which includes editing and proofreading.

We often call these prewriting strategies “brainstorming techniques.” Five useful strategies are listing, clustering, freewriting, looping, and asking the six journalists' questions. These strategies help you with both your invention and organization of ideas, and they can aid you in developing topics for your writing.

What are examples of writing strategies? ›

Some of the writer's strategies include alliteration (a string of words with the same initial sound), similes, metaphors/analogies, sensory details (vividly describe sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch to engage the reader's senses), onomatopoeia (writing words that represent the sounds of the things they describe), ...

If you use an indirect approach, you add some kind of buffer, or padding, before you deliver your message. Such buffers usually express appreciation or understanding, although they can also present a neutral factual statement.

The 'indirect approach' is a philosophy applicable to all contests between parties and demands much of the leadership, since a lot can go wrong in the execution. 'When forced to fight, the indirect strategy involves using surprise, intelligence, logic, and human nature to exploit the enemy's weaknesses' (Steve W.

The Indirect approach is a military strategy described and chronicled by B. H. Liddell Hart after World War I. It was an attempt to find a solution to the problem of high casualty rates in conflict zones with high force to space ratios, such as the Western Front on which he served.

Among the behaviors that indicate negative body language are: poor stance, avoiding eye contact, creating barriers, being clumsy with objects, inappropriate spacing, sweating, frowning, and overusing gestures.

Keep in mind these seven goals when delivering bad news in person or in writing: Be clear and concise to avoid being asked for additional clarification. Help the receiver understand and accept the news. Reduce the anxiety associated with the bad news as much as possible by expressing sympathy or empathy.

A negative conversation is one in which one person talks down to the other and dominates the conversation. Negative conversations often build tension between people and can eventually lead to conflict.

What is the impact of negative communication? ›

Poor communication can cause you and others to rush, feel stressed, overworked, and lack a sense of humor because of a lack of communication. As the best personality development mentor, lack of or improper communication creates a sense of anxiety and tension, which is unhelpful to productivity.

Negative tones in speech are qualities of expression that reveal unhappy attitudes toward the subject—or even the listener. These vocal qualities may include pitch, volume, rhythm, and more, but in a sad or angry speaker, they add up to share that emotion.

The negative effects of a negative attitude

You'll find that your communication style is negatively affected, and this increases the potential for miscommunication. You'll become more close-minded, and less able to communicate openly. Arguments, worry, and fear increase.

In the indirect approach, the evidence is presented first, leading therefore to the main idea. This is an inductive argument. This approach is best if your audience may be displeased about or may resist what you have to say.

Indirect characterization is when an author reveals a character's traits through actions, thoughts, speech, etc., instead of saying it outright.

Indirect communication often requires a listener to interpret their message using nonverbal cues, tone and the context of the discussion. When analyzing indirect communication, a listener often gathers information from other sources, so the speaker's intentions are implicit.

Using the direct approach, you deliver the message straight away after your salutation, whereas a more indirect approach will include some kind of buffer before you deliver your message.

Direct approaches give ordinary information or good news up front. In contrast, indirect approaches are used when you think your audience may reply with disappointment, annoyance, or defensiveness, or maybe you're not even sure how they will react to your idea.

What are three 3 types of indirect methods? ›

Among indirect methods are surveys, exit interviews, focus groups, and the use of external reviewers.

Take your accrual net income plus depreciation and subtract your change in accounts receivable, change in inventory, and change in accounts payable. Then add any noncash expenses and subtract any customer deposits.

Indirect communication allows you to edit and adjust your message as you go. This may naturally prevent missteps, conflicts, and even cultural miscommunications. Indirect communication will force you to become a better listener, to pay attention, to read body language, and look for nonverbal indicators.

For example, if an advertiser wanted to persuade you that a cleaner named Blix removes stains, they could use a verbal metaphor like “Blix: Stain Grenade.” Or, they could use a visual metaphor by showing a picture of a bottle of Blix next to a hand grenade.