Break the bad news with a fix, not a grovel

Deliver bad news with a plan instead of an apology spiral.

1 views

Recommended tools

Any model

Prompt Locked

What this prompt does

Leads with the fact and the fix
Caps the apology at one clean sentence
Keeps ownership in first person — no blame-shifting
Flags what will still anger the client

Why it works

Clients forgive problems with plans attached. Leading with the fix keeps their eyes on the future instead of the fault.

Tips for this prompt

Fill every fact honestly — vague causes get vague emails
Set fix dates you can actually hit
Only offer compensation you listed — "nothing" is fine
Read the anger flags before you send
Send the same day — waiting makes it worse

How to use the prompt

Paste the prompt into your AI assistant
Fill the placeholders honestly — cause and fix dates included
Run it and read the draft email
Check the anger flags before you send
Send it the same day

Emailbad newsapologydeadlinesemail

Related prompts

✓Tested

Say no to scope creep without losing the client

A warm reply that holds the line on scope creep — without losing the client.

2

✓Tested

Chase late payment without sounding desperate

Get paid faster with a firm, specific chaser that never sounds desperate.

2

✓Tested

Get a ghosting client to reply or close out

Get a stalled client to reply, decide, or close out cleanly.

0

✓Tested

Cold email that doesn't sound like sales

Get a cold email that reads like a person wrote it — not a sales sequence.

0

#036

✓Tested

Hold your rate when clients push back

Reply to price pushback and hold your rate — no discounting, no grovelling, no losing the client.

1

✓Tested

Post-purchase email workflow (0-hour + nurture)

A four-email sequence that turns new buyers into happy, active customers — written in Claude.

1

#044