Tell an employee they didn’t get the raise

It’s hard to tell an employee they didn’t get the promotion they were vying for. Your goal should be to deliver the news clearly and with empathy.

Start by validating your employee’s contributions and thanking them for applying. Avoid comforting statements like “next time you’ll get the job,” which make promises you may not be able to keep. Be prepared to explain why they didn’t get it — for example, did they lack a certain experience, discipline, or skill set?

Share how the decision was made. While the employee may not be happy with the outcome, it’s important that they know the process was fair.

(Adapted from “How to Tell an Employee They Didn’t Get a Promotion,” by Rebecca Knight.)

What to do when you’re in a crisis

When you’re going through a personal crisis, you’ll likely need the support of your colleagues. But they may not know how to be useful, so ask for their help thoughtfully and specifically. Describe what you need and why the help is meaningful to you, and, as with any request at work, give a deadline. For example, you might say, “I’d love your assistance over the next two weeks while I’m out caring for my mother. Would you be able to complete the report we’ve been working on by next Thursday? It would free up my mind to focus on what I need to do at home.” Research shows that how you frame a request strongly influences whether someone will agree to it. So being clear about exactly what you need will make it easier for your colleagues to help out when you need them.

(Adapted from “What to Do When a Personal Crisis Is Hurting Your Professional Life,” by Amy Gallo.)

Care for your body language

If you want people at work to trust and respect you, regardless of your title or authority, pay attention to your body language. How you stand, sit and speak all affect whether people are open to being influenced by you. For example, standing up straight with your shoulders back helps you come across as confident and commanding, while slouching and looking down at your feet have the opposite effect. When meeting with someone you don’t know well, keep your arms uncrossed, your hands by your sides and your torso open and pointed at the other person. This sends the message that you are open and trustworthy. And try pitching your voice a little lower than you normally would, to connote power. This can counteract the effect of nervousness, which tends to push the tone of your voice higher.

(Adapted from “How to Increase Your Influence at Work,” by Rebecca Knight.)

To fight your burnout, take control of it

When you’re burned out and exhausted, it’s easy to think of yourself as a victim of circumstances — and forget that you have a say in your situation. Instead of blaming everyone else for your being overworked and overstressed, take ownership of it. Think to yourself: “Others may have contributed to my situation, but I have the ability to make choices that can improve my present and future.” Realising that you have autonomy creates hope, which enables you to take action, and taking even small steps reinforces your sense of control. Make the choice to attend to your physical needs, for example. This could be as simple as getting up to stretch your legs when you’re feeling stiff, eating lunch with co-workers instead of at your desk, or going to bed when you’re tired.

(Adapted from “To Recover from Burnout, Regain Your Sense of Control,” by Elizabeth Grace Saunders.)

During vacation, don’t check email

When you go on vacation, ideally you should disconnect from work completely. But if going off the grid truly is not an option for you, set boundaries for yourself so that you aren’t tethered to your device. Make a plan to check your messages once a day at a particular time or only on certain days. Put your phone out of reach — your hotel room’s safe is a good place — or, if you want to use it to take pictures, keep it in airplane mode. You can also reduce the number of emails you get by making clear in your out-of-office message that you are not reachable. Even if you plan to occasionally check in, telling people that you’re available only encourages them to expect a reply. Your out-of-office message gives you the freedom to choose how and when you’ll respond (if at all) while you’re away.

(Adapted from “3 Ways to Control Your Phone Addiction on Vacation,” by Regan Walsh.)

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, August 13th, 2018