With all the recent layoffs and banking concerns, let’s talk about FUD and how you can help short circuit it.

FUD stands for fear, uncertainty, and doubt. We tend to fear what we don’t know, because once upon a time this was a good way to not get eaten. Likewise, we tend to extrapolate from current events to a future event where we get eaten. It made sense back then, and many would say it still makes sense now. And unless leaders do something to short circuit this, you end up with everyone scared and gossiping about the worst.

You don’t head this off by assuring everyone that everything is good. Even if everything is good! This comes across as disingenuous and will merely feed the gossip mill. You help calm the FUD through empathy and transparency.

Admit that there’s a lot of uncertainty and bad news going around. Admit that people have justifiable concerns. And then be open about how you are addressing this. Explain the financials – don’t just tout the good news, explain the bad news too. Be transparent about what you’re not certain of. And promise to update everyone when you know more and follow through.

Then take questions. Take the bad ones first. And don’t be afraid to say “we don’t know.” Also, don’t try to sell bad news as anything other than bad. If you’re cutting a benefit, admit that this is bad and hurts everyone, but explain why it must be done and how it helps maintain other benefits or jobs. If people are critical, acknowledge they have a right to be. Understand they while these changes may not significantly impact you, they may impact others in major ways. And admit this. Just saying “I know this sucks,” goes a long way.

You’ll get happier people, who waste less time being mired in FUD if you are empathetic and transparent.