"I'd give them a head's up as early as possible so they didn't feel taken off guard. As soon as I have the bad news, I'd deliver it, no cushion. Choosing my words carefully, I'd break down the situation, so they had a clear understanding of how the situation played out, resulting in their bad news, so they understood what precipitated it.

Open with transparency, I'd inform them of their options, offer guidance on their best approach to address their situation, and would do everything I could to ensure clear and effective communication has been delivered, de-escalating as needed with empathy and patience. I'd follow up to see if they had questions, and offer them resources. I'd try to be as helpful as I could."