Tip of the week: How to kill your employees’ spirit

Frustrate their hopes. Workers lose heart when they feel unable to contribute, so “stymie employees’ desire to make a difference” at every turn. We collected 12,000 diary entries from 238 professionals, and learned that a boss can greatly affect moods. Try moving people “on and off projects like chess pieces.” Better yet, “give conflicting goals” and change them often.

Fight dissent. If you hear whispers of discord, deny culpability, “and if possible, strike back.” When alerted to a morale problem, remind the messenger—and anyone listening—that they’re lucky to be employed.

Never change. If you think you can’t learn a thing from this list, you’re probably already creating a toxic atmosphere. “Unawareness is one of the trademarks of managers who are most effective at destroying employees’ work lives.”

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Source: The Washington Post