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A stressful home life, medical problems, or personal issues could be making them feel frustrated or sad. Check in periodically with your employees. Ask them thoughtful, open-ended questions about their lives to see what may be causing their negativity.  It’s good to ask these questions in a casual setting, such as by the coffee machine or in the lunch room. For example, you might ask, “How is your family doing?” or “How have you been doing recently?” If the employee does not want to talk about their personal life, do not push the issue. Just say, “I understand.” You might talk to them about less personal subjects, such as television, sports, or weather. If you acknowledge your employee's accomplishments, they will have more pride in their work. Let them know that you are proud of their work. This will help reinforce positive behaviors in the workplace.  For example, if Marla recently completed a big project, you can say, “Great job on this project! You did really well getting this out to us quickly.” Be specific with your feedback. For example, you might say, "You saved us so much money this quarter after finding that error in the books. We really appreciate having you here." In many cases, people may feel as though their work is worthless. To give your employees a sense of purpose, remind them of how important their work is to their coworkers, team, and company.  For example, you might say, “Thank you for completing these reports. I know they’re tedious, but they help everyone get the information they need more quickly.” You can also say something like, "We would not have been able to complete this project without you." Even if you think the change will be a positive one, asking your employees about their opinions helps them feel as though they have a say in their workplace. Consider implementing their feedback if possible.  Open-ended questions are best, as they will help you get more honest feedback. For example, you might say, “We’re thinking of making some changes to the breakroom. What would you like to see there?” For decisions that come from higher up, give your employees plenty of warning if possible. You might say, “Senior management is thinking of extending work hours during the holiday season. What concerns might you have about this?” Never dismiss their problem, even if it comes from a very negative employee. Occasionally, take the chance to repeat what they are saying back to them. This will reinforce that you hear and understand their frustrations.  For example, you might say, “What I am hearing is that you are upset that IT ignores your broken computer. Is that correct?” Seriously consider all suggestions. Instead of saying, “no, we can’t do that,” you might say, “Let me think about it and get back to you” or “yes, we might be able to do that.” Ignoring problems does not make them go away, and it can worsen negativity in the office. Your employees will feel better about their work if they think that their concerns are taken seriously.
Ask your employees about their life outside of work. Praise the employee when they do a good job. Tell employees how they contribute to the success of the company. Solicit feedback from your employees before making changes. Listen actively to your employees when they discuss a problem.