When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing

by Daniel H. Pink

Our preference, whether we’re a patient getting test results or a student awaiting a midsemester evaluation, is clear: bad news first, good news last. But as news givers, we often do the reverse.

The chapter on endings was one of my favorites. And this finding is a reason – in part because I’ve long been guilty of this mistake. I prefer to receive the bad news first, but I always gave the good news first. I’ve now changed my ways.