If an employee is not being promoted, for example, they are likely to feel disappointed and hurt no matter what. But if they can’t talk with you about their reactions, they may also feel betrayed, unappreciated, frustrated, and ignored. Then they’re likely to start making attributions about you — that you’re a difficult person to work for, or that you don’t like them and are playing favorites, perhaps. If, on the other hand, you elicit their feelings and show that you care about their reaction, they’re much more likely to be able to take in your reasoning for not promoting them, and to work
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