You care about your direct reports, and since you see them almost every day, you probably know them pretty well. This can often leave us thinking we know them, and their motivations, pretty well.
This is why when an employee suddenly snaps at us, gets short with coworkers, and is generally irritable, it can leave us feeling as though we know exactly what’s going on.
But leaders can’t read minds, and that means treading carefully when it comes to interpreting demeanor.
After all, what does a bad attitude actually look like? Is it being openly critical? Silent and glum? Sarcastic? Or just plain grumpy?
Discussing negative attitudes with employees is among the most difficult forms of feedback you can give.