My old boss had a phrase, "bad news doesn't age well". I have followed this throughout my career and it's served me well. I have not found it to be bad to be th

My old boss had a phrase, "bad news doesn't age well". I have followed this throughout my career and it's served me well. I have not found it to be bad to be the bearer of bad news. I have found that it makes me perceived as transparent and honest about expectations. Bearers of bad news are frowned upon when the bad news is their fault and not presented when its determined to exist. I think this is a distinction that should be made with your phrase.