Provide all employees with a handbook or other set of company guidelines. Even if you own a small business with only a few employees, you can still create a brief set of rules. That way, when you provide feedback you can reference these policies. For both written and verbal feedback, you need to clearly state the issue and support your statement with facts that you know to be true.  For example, you might say, “Employee did not complete steps 3 or 5 on the checklist for this project, which was previously given to the employee.” Point out which rule was broken. You might write, "The employee handbook clearly states that employees need to use the company car to make deliveries. This employee used their personal vehicle without permission." You can protect yourself and the company from employee complaints by making sure to support your documentation with evidence. For example, if an employee didn’t complete an important report, you can use the incomplete report as evidence.  You can also ask other employees to serve as witnesses. For example, you might write, “5 other employees noticed this person leaving the office at 4 rather than staying until 6, as required.” If you are documenting a poor client interaction, you might use emails or phone recordings as your evidence. Put your recommendations in writing. For example, you might note, “Employee needs to follow the written guidelines for handling a customer complaint. Specifically, the employee needs to offer a clear solution to the customer.” Discuss the report with the employee. You can say, “Here you can see that I wrote down how I would like you to improve. In the future, please offer the customer a solution instead of saying that the problem is not your fault. Is that clear?” An action plan lays out the steps that need to be taken in order to improve. To make your employee feel like a valued part of the team, ask them to help you draft the plan. Start by setting goals, then write down how the employee will accomplish those goals. Make sure to include a deadline for each step. You could write, “Employee will increase sales by 10% per month. First, the employee will make a minimum of 10 cold calls per day. Second, the employee will send emails to at least 15 potential customers each week. Third, the employee will track their progress and meet with their supervisor to discuss any issues. All of these tasks must be completed by 2:00 every Friday.” Keeping a record is important because if the employee later issues a complaint, you’ll have extra documentation to show how you handled the situation. After you finish a conversation about performance, take a few minutes to record the important points. You can also jot down notes during the meeting so that you don’t miss any big details.  Create a file for each employee. It can be an electronic or paper file (or both). Any time you make notes about an employee, place them in the file. Write something like, “During this meeting, I explained to the employee that they have 6 months to improve their sales. We created an action plan together and I’ve placed a copy in the employee file. The employee expressed concern that they will not be able to meet these goals. I explained why these targets are mandatory and provided clear steps for how to meet them.” Remember, this meeting should be productive for both you and the employee. Of course, you should point out issues, but make sure to also offer some encouragement. The employee is likely to perform better if they feel supported. Try saying, “I know that these targets might be really tough to meet. But I believe in you. I know that you are talented, and I’m here to support you.”

Summary: Identify which rule or policy was violated, if applicable. Use evidence to support the facts. Explain the behavior that needs to change or continue. Draw up a specific action plan. Keep a detailed record of all conversations. Show that you are supportive.


Be open to trying new activities in your town or school. This will allow you to meet and interact with people who could become new friends.  Volunteer. Take a music class. Join a team or a club. Walk your dog. Help out at local businesses. Explore your town more. If you're shy, or just don't have access to or time for meeting new people in-person, consider using social media more. Chatting with people from work or school online is a great way to get to know people more. Chatting online may reduce some nervousness and allows you to talk to people from the safety of your own home. Keep in mind to be careful when meeting or talking to new friends online. You may be getting inaccurate information about who someone is. To get good friendships to grow, actively try to spend quality time with new friends. Plan time for something fun or interesting, such as going to a movie, going on a hike, or sharing a meal.  Be wary of always having to be the one to make time for your friends. Your friends should also be initiating and making plans with you, too. Keep in mind not to overwhelm friends by calling them too much. Avoid calling or texting late at night. If you don’t have a lot of time to spend one-on-one, schedule a group activity. Notice what your new friends like. Try to schedule activities with them around their interests. Try to connect with them by showing interest in their opinions and experiences. Ask questions about them that require more than a “yes” or “no” answer. For example, you might ask:  What do you like to do on the weekends? Who is your favorite band? Where do you like to vacation? When did you meet your boyfriend? Why do you like that sports team? After you start a friendship with someone new, it is a good idea to reflect on the friendship to see if it is something you want to continue. Try asking yourself some questions to evaluate the friendship, such as:  Do we mesh well? Do we get each other and enjoy each other's company? Do I feel safe, trusting, and open?

Summary: Meet new people nearby. Talk with people online. Make time for new friends. Pay attention. Reflect on the friendship.


With LAN sync enabled, you can send huge files quickly across all the computers within your LAN. Select the file from your computer and copy it. Paste the copied file in your Dropbox shared folder. Once Dropbox detects a change in your Dropbox folders, it will begin syncing.  Since LAN sync is enabled, it will sync the contents of your folder across all the computers in the local network first before syncing it with the Dropbox server. Within the just few seconds, the other computers will have a copy of the file you’ve just sent under the shared folder. There’s no need to copy to a USB drive and no need to upload to your email.

Summary: Locate the file. Put the file in the shared folder. Let LAN sync work.


This part of the taming process involves both of your hands, so it will be easier to remove your budgie from their cage. You can choose a neutral room that he has become used to, such as the bathroom,  or they can stay in the same room as their cage. Teaching your budgie to step up will be easier to do when you are sitting down. Sit down slowly and gently so as not to startle your budgie or cause them to fly off your finger. Use gentle pressure against their chest just as you did when you initially taught your budgie how to step onto your index finger. Push up against their chest as you say ‘step up.’ Keep doing this until your budgie steps up onto your finger. Consider making this a daily activity. Soon it will become a habit for your budgie.  Your budgie may not be familiar with this verbal cue, so it may take a few tries before they understand that they should step up onto your other index finger. Give him a small treat each time he steps up. As with the other aspects of the taming process, you should practice this several times a day in short sessions (10-15 minutes). Stepping up usually comes naturally to budgies, so it probably won’t take very long for them to learn how to do this on your index fingers.
Summary: Have your budgie step onto one of your index fingers. Sit down in a chair, on the floor, or on a bed. Place the index finger of your other hand on your budgie’s chest, just above their feet. Practice this until they can step up onto your other index finger without you having to push on their chest.