What is a good/helpful response when someone tells you bad or sad personal news?

<p>This question stemmed from a previous Quick Hits where we talked about how to give someone really bad news (<a href='https://youtu.be/f1fiA0bhtfc'>https://youtu.be/f1fiA0bhtfc</a>). This is the flip-side, when someone tells you bad news.</p> <p> </p> <p>Dr Cole Galloway started us of with sage advice – engage like a human. Put the business and professional airs aside and really connect with them. Say that it is awful. Meet them where they are. And don’t jump in to solution mode.</p> <p> </p> <p>Elissa Hecker followed that up with a personal story about a colleague sharing really good news (his wife was pregnant) and how it devastated her because she was struggling with doing IVF. And he was very empathic to her situation.</p> <p> </p> <p>Joey Robert Parks added how easy it is to be empathic to the point of “me too-ing” and launching into a story about yourself in a somehow related situation (this being common and not helpful came up in the previous conversation too).</p> <p> </p> <p>Two thirds of the way through Cole dropped a nugget that I am going to do my best to remember. When offering to support someone he suggested saying this: “I won't worry if you'll promise me that you'll reach out whenever you need something.”</p> <p> </p> <p>That is so powerful.</p> <p> </p> <p>At the very end I added that Cole had sent us the Brené Brown empathy vs sympathy talk. It’s less than three minutes long and relevant to this topic. You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/KZBTYViDPlQ</p> <p> </p> <p>What tips do you have for responding to someone who shares bad personal news with you?</p> <p> </p> <p>Connect with the panelists: Elissa D. Hecker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elissa-d-hecker-48467711/</p> <p>She is the Go-To General Counsel, Collaborative Partner, and Creative Problem Solver, for businesses and the Entertainment and Arts industries</p> <p> </p> <p>Dr Cole Galloway: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cole-galloway-1ba715107/</p> <p>Recovering academic working in social justice and disability, primarily with babies as