Most managers feel uncomfortable when employees cry during business conversations. Many of us may recall a time we’ve cried at work, but for some people it’s not a rare occurrence. Some individuals seem to react excessively to disappointment or challenge, with repeated bouts of apparent sadness or fear accompanied by tears, shaking, or reddening. If you manage someone who tears up easily, you may find yourself leaving important topics or issues unaddressed to avoid upsetting them.
How to Manage an Employee Who Cries Easily
Many of us may recall a time we’ve cried at work, but for some people it’s not a rare occurrence. If you manage someone who tears up easily, you may find yourself leaving important topics or issues unaddressed to avoid upsetting them. You can’t know what’s going on inside your employee’s head, but you do need to find ways to get the work done despite their strong emotions. Don’t overreact to their tears; just note what triggered the crying, and give them a brief (say, 5 minute) recovery period. Then probe a little, but skip open-ended questions like “What’s going on?” (which might spark a litany of complaints) in favor of the more specific, “What should I know about this situation?” Acknowledge their feelings without trying to fix the situation for them. Finally, conclude the conversation with next steps.