The following tips will help you communicate more effectively with your employees:

1. Let employees know that having feelings is okay. Feelings are facts and need to be dealt with.

2. Praise in public, criticize in private. Nothing improves a persons behavior better than well-timed, sincere, and justified praise. Nothing builds resentment faster than being yelled at in front of others.

3. Listen to employees and accept suggestions. Its easier to give advice than to receive it, but you dont learn much listening only to yourself.

4. Pay as much attention to how you say something as to what you say. Begin the conversation with a positive comment and/or statement that shows you are empathizing with the individual. Be sure your face says the same thing as your words.

5. Refrain from saying should, ought, and "dont." When you give advice or directions do it directly and politely. Please take this material to the front office. It sometimes helps to phrase things as questions: Have you thought about doing it this way? What if we did this. . .? Use I or me statements: I do it this way I try to. . . In response to incorrect behaviors express your feelings rather than blaming: Im bothered when you do that. It makes me feel . . ..