"I gave my employee some negative feedback because he appeared to be slacking off on the job. Rather than telling him that I thought he was lazy, I said, 'I've noticed that it's been taking you longer to turn in those reports. What's going on? Is there anything I can do?' I always start by asking questions instead of making accusations. He was very appreciative and told me how he was struggling with motivation. I asked him what would motivate him, and we were able to find a solution that worked for both of us."

"I love to play to other's strengths. Everyone communicates differently, so I send written and verbal communication. Usually, that looks like a small, informal huddle outlining our topic or concern, and I follow that up with a quick email detailing the discussion. This way, the team hears and reads all expectations. Also, it allows those who are vocal to share in a group setting and for the quieter few to ask questions in the privacy of an email."