When You Should Probably Shoot the Messenger...

Wikipedia says the term "Don't shoot the messenger probably dates back to Plutarch in ancient Greece.  

He wrote: "The first messenger, that gave notice of Lucullus' coming was so far from pleasing Tigranes that, he had his head cut off for his pains; and no man dared to bring further information. Without any intelligence at all, Tigranes sat while war was already blazing around him, giving ear only to those who flattered him.'

The advice 'Don't shoot the messenger' was expressed by Shakespeare in Henry IV, and in Antony and Cleopatra: when told Antony has married another, Cleopatra threatens to treat the messenger's eyes as balls, eliciting the response 'Gracious madam, I that do bring the news made not the match." Prior to that, a related sentiment was expressed in Antigone by Sophocles as "'no one loves the messenger who brings bad news' or 'no man delights in the bearer of bad news.'" 

But in your business is it wise to blame the bearer of bad news more than the news itself?

Wikipedia says the term "Don't shoot the messenger probably dates back to Plutarch in ancient Greece.  

He wrote: "The first messenger, that gave notice of Lucullus' coming was so far from pleasing Tigranes that, he had his head cut off for his pains; and no man dared to bring further information. Without any intelligence at all, Tigranes sat while war was already blazing around him, giving ear only to those who flattered him.'

The advice 'Don't shoot the messenger' was expressed by Shakespeare in Henry IV, and in Antony and Cleopatra: when told Antony has married another, Cleopatra threatens to treat the messenger's eyes as balls, eliciting the response 'Gracious madam, I that do bring the news made not the match." Prior to that, a related sentiment was expressed in Antigone by Sophocles as "'no one loves the messenger who brings bad news' or 'no man delights in the bearer of bad news.'" 

But in your business is it wise to blame the bearer of bad news more than the news itself?

1. When the messenger collects trash like a dump - the messenger begins to stink like the dump does.

2. When they go around collecting trash... when the messenger is actively looking for bad news. Collecting it wherever they go.

3. When the messenger feels like they are more important than the organization and is trying to bring it down.

4. When they never offer a positive solution, but only bring up problems to keep everyone running around.  

Give them two opportunities to complain and bring a solution, then shoot them!