Page 227 - Build a Culture of Employee Engagement with the Principles

198 Carrots and Sticks Don’t Work

more uncomfortable and difficult. The sooner you can get the
issue out on the table and apologize, the better.
6. Continuous dialogue. Ongoing one-on-one conversa-
tions and genuine expressions of interest and concern are
necessary for an extended period of time. As long as you are
in conversation with the employee, you are likely making
progress toward repairing the relationship.
7. Recommit. Let the employee know that you are com-
mitted to keeping promises and to not breaking them. Ask
the employee to hold you accountable and point out any
discrepancies between your stated commitments and your
behaviors.
8. Ask if there is anything you can do to fix the situa-
tion. If a request is made that you cannot honor, be sure to
express your empathy and regret and clearly state that this is
not a possibility, while focusing on what is possible.
9. Be transparent. Increase transparency by communi-
cating the reasons behind your decisions and by providing
employees access to data that they may not have had before.
Become as transparent as possible in your business dealings
and show employees that you have nothing to hide.
10. Reevaluate policies. Tailor policies or make changes in
rules and processes that demonstrate greater trust.
11. Listen to ideas. Show that you trust and respect the
employee by listening to his or her advice and implementing
his or her ideas.
12. Increase responsibility and autonomy. Look for
opportunities to give the employee increased responsibility
and autonomy to demonstrate your trust.
13. Focus on being fair. Take the opportunity to look
across different relationships, decisions, and processes to