chapters (6)
Say It Straight and Early
The moment. A real change is coming - a reorg, a pivot, a cut - and you're deciding when and how to tell the team.
What most people do
Delay it "until there's more certainty," then soften it into vague corporate language nobody can decode.
Why it misfires. People sense change before it's announced, and silence fills with rumor - usually worse than the truth. Vague wording ("we're evolving our operating model") signals you're hiding something and erodes trust before the change even lands.
The rewrite
"I want to be straight with you: starting next month, we're reorganizing the team into two groups. Here's what that means for you."
The move: no burying the lede. Announce real change early and in plain language. Lead with what's actually happening, not a warm-up. Clear and early beats polished and late - every time.
Your turn
Write the one plain sentence that says what's actually changing - no jargon, no cushioning.
Edge cases. "Early" doesn't mean before you've thought it through - but the moment it's decided, tell them before they hear it elsewhere.
This week
Take a change you've been softening and write the straight, plain-language version.