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It is recommended to start with an agreement about the way you intend to work together,

and to exchange information.

This type of agreement not only works for individuals, but for teams, or groups as well.
When talking to staff ask – do not tell; describe – do not judge; stick to behavior – not

personality. The advice is even more important for a small business with few employees as one
member of staff with the sulks can upset all the others and therefore lower productivity.

Ask your staff how do they think they are doing and get them to find an area where they

think they are weak or could do better.
Sometimes you can see a manager catching the late arrival of an employee. He greets him

with a stern look, crossed arms in a condescending manner and gives him a lecture about how many
times he has been late recently, and puts a snide question asking what he is going to do about it.

The correct approach would be to ask if there is a problem causing him to be always late.
This should also be done in private not across the office or factory floor, thus giving the

employee the privacy of discussing matters.

We want to attract your attention to the main two problems: (1) managers’ confidence to
talk to staff and (2) handling adverse reactions. It will help remove the air of doom about talking to

the boss.

THINK BEFORE SAYING «I QUIT»

There is nothing worse than wanting to turn back time and thinking: “If only I knew then

what I know now”. But turn back time you cannot do, so how do you know you make the right
career decision?

Once you have got down the recruitment track, and an offer is forthcoming, there are three
key issues you need to sort out in your mind: how to weigh up the offer; how to handle your

resignation; and how to react to any possible counter-offer.

“First, you must remember that a job offer is a lot more than just remuneration,” says Nigel
Bates, director of Selection Department.

“You’ve got to trust your instincts and say to yourself: “Can I spend 45 weeks of the year

with these people? You should ask yourself, too, if this is an undertaking that genuinely excites
you.”

“You must also look to the longer term and see what routes forward there are from this job.”