I’m afraid to give feedback after 2 employees threatened self-harm

A reader writes:

I am a manager and I have a lot of empathy for people on my team. However, that empathy has taken a turn since I’ve now had employees twice threaten suicide after serious feedback conversations. In both cases I was told they were considering suicide because of the potential job loss, and we had to act accordingly — welfare checks, making sure their safety was secured. Clearly it wasn’t just my feedback that caused it, but it does seem like a catalyst for it. I did know before this happened that they were each struggling with their mental health, but nothing that would indicate this severity.

In both situations, the people in question are safe, but I’m now struggling with being able to do anything regarding coaching my team. I am so terrified someone is going to be severely impacted by my words and I am almost paralyzed with anxiety. I know rationally that this is not my fault, and I have a therapist, but I’m really stuck about this part of my day-to-day management of my team.

I answer this question over at Inc. today, where I’m revisiting letters that have been buried in the archives here from years ago (and sometimes updating/expanding my answers to them). You can read it here.

The post I’m afraid to give feedback after 2 employees threatened self-harm appeared first on Ask a Manager.

View the full article