• Ask a human resources consultant or representative to conduct conflict resolution exercises with the employee and you. These professionals are skilled in creating win-win situations by objectively
working through problems.

• If the employee is angry because he was passed over for a promotion
or a raise, create a plan jointly that will lead to a similar promotion or raise in the future. Focus on the future and don’t try to force the employee to agree with you about the past decision.

Tell the employee, “I realize that I gave John the promotion instead of you and that you had seniority. John landed the position because he had the skills to handle the budget. I want to plan a path for you to your next promotion so that you will never lose a promotion for that reason again. The first thing I want you to do is to start taking some of the responsibility for helping me with the budget each month. Second, I am sending you to the class “Accounting for Managers,” which will be held on June 25. I hope that we can work together more amiably than we have been lately. You might not agree with my decision, but going forward I will help you in any way I can.”

Taken From: 201 Ways to Turn Any Employee Into a STAR Performer