The ECHO Method

If you have bad news brewing up & foresee that you'll need your leadership's help to advise or bail you out (PR disaster, security debacle etc.), then inform them with the ECHO method:

1. Early

The longer you wait, the lesser time you leave them to react & counter.

Solicit a rope to pull you out of the quicksand before it's too late.

2. Completely

Deliver the appropriate background & contextual details for the execs to make a meaningful decision.

You don't want to miss out on fine details that can influence someone's thought process.

3. Honestly

Don't fudge the truth.

Don't undersell it or over-exaggerate.

Confess if you made the mistake.

4. (with) Options

Do your due diligence and present options as a way out. Highlight the cost of each and turnaround times. Make it easy for them to green light an option once they've thought it over.

Sure, you may have some hard talk after the dust is settled but if the red flag isn't raised in time, it could be a train wreck with irreversible damage & far worse ramifications.