Be tender with people and tough on problems

I meet many bosses who treat people and problems in the same way and often confuse problems with people or personalities with problems.

Stop if this is you. It's making your people's productivity even worse.

Instead isolate the problem or challenge and make sure in doing so and discussing it no one can take it personal.

Have conversations with people about what they have agreed they are accountable for. When things don't go according to plan ask questions such as what happened? and what do you need to do to get back on track? Such questions encourage people to isolate their own problems as well as come up with their own solutions. 

Rule of thumb as a modis operandi: be tender with people yet tough on problems.

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian