At some point, we all have a stressful life event that distracts us from work. Perhaps it's a family member's illness, a divorce, or the death of a friend. If someone on your team is going through a personal crisis, what can you do as their manager? First, make yourself available. If you maintain an atmosphere of compassion in the office, people are more likely to come to you when they're going through a tough period. When they do approach you, don't ask prying questions. Respect their privacy and simply listen. Your employee may just want a sounding board about the difficulties of caring for a sick relative or an opportunity to explain how their divorce has affected their attention span. And don't jump to conclusions. If you immediately suggest they take a leave of absence or adjust their schedule, for example, they may be put off if that's not what they need. Ask what changes to their work would help them, and then explore the options together.
Adapted from "How to Manage an Employee Who's Having a Personal Crisis," by Carolyn O'Hara
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