What is Bill Carmody's definitive guide to composing effective negative messages?

Bill’s definitive guide to composing effective negative messages centers on five steps:

1. Be clear on your goal
   Decide the outcome you want (understanding, behavior change, maintaining relationship) before you write a word.

2. Lead with empathy
   Acknowledge the other person’s perspective and any inconvenience or emotion they may feel.

3. State the negative message plainly
   No sugar-coating, no vague language. Say what is happening, what is not happening, and by when.

4. Explain the rationale
   Briefly share the “why” so the message feels fair, not arbitrary.

5. Offer a constructive path forward
   Provide next steps, alternatives, or what success looks like from here.

Would you like a fill‑in‑the‑blank email template that follows this structure?