I’m reporting live from the SHRM’s annual conference out in San Diego this week, and I was lucky enough to meet with Paul Falcone, vice president of human resources for Time Warner Cable and author of “101 Tough Conversations to Have with Employees: A Manager’s Guide to Addressing Performance, Conduct, and Discipline Challenges.”
Among Paul’s great tips for better handling workplace conflicts:
- Don’t be afraid to have them — sooner rather than later. Little problems can become big problems very quickly if you don’t address them head-on.
- Ask people upfront (as soon as the interview process) how they like to hear feedback. Some people appreciate a direct approach; others want something softer. And make it safe for them to tell you the prefer the latter.
- Use guilt, not anger to motivate people to assume responsibility.
Check out our full interview with Paul, as well as other conversations with HR thoughtleaders from Smartbrief’s video series with Monster.com.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pOCpNkVZjw[/embed]