Delivering Bad News

After 3 months as a manager, I've learnt that the trick to delivering bad news to staff is to sound so depressed about the bad news yourself that your staff actually turns around to console you and tell you that it's not that bad.

Me
"sorry you can't go on half day. It's totally uncalled for and I don't see why you can't. Coverage is fine and etc etc etc."

Staff
"It's ok lah.. don't be so upset. I will take another day. It's no problem at all."

I'm not proud of it. It's kinda manipulative.