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Merrick, NY—How familiar are these scenarios? 1) You as a manager know something about the future of the company that you can’t share, but rumors are swirling. 2) You have to deliver a custom engagement ring tonight but it came back from the bench jeweler wrong. 3) Your superstar salesperson just was caught with his hand in the till. 4) You feel like a kindergarten teacher monitoring the squabbles of two employees who just can’t seem to coexist peacefully. 5) Your best employee wants to advance her career, but there’s nowhere for her to go and no money to pay her more. What to do?

These dilemmas were the subject of author Jeff Haden’s most recent business blog on BNET.com.  Here’s a brief excerpt of his advice for managing each situation, or click here for the full article.

1. If layoff rumors are swirling and you’re confronted about them, be honest that the company is struggling. It’s ok to say that management is trying to find solutions that would minimize impact to employees, but that you’re obligated to keep confidential discussions confidential.
2. How severe is the mistake, how much it would cost to re-do the job, and how firm is the delivery date for the customer? All these need to be taken into account before deciding whether to remake the piece or deliver as is. But if the mistake makes you cringe, a remake is in order.
3. First, get all the facts. If they did break a major rule, show them the door. If they broke one, they’re probably breaking many more. Yes, word will get around among the staff, but don’t confirm or deny; keep details of the termination confidential.
4. Two employees just can’t get along. You really want to knock their heads together and tell them to just grow up, but you can’t. Hear each employee out, and stick to facts, behaviors, and observations in the discussion. Don’t get into the realm of feelings. Lay out clear rules for behaviors that will not be tolerated.
5. Continue to provide opportunities for development, but don’t make advancement promises you may not be able to keep, and don’t go overboard in favoring one employee’s career development over another’s.

Separately, BNET.com blogger Steve Tobak identifies the 5 Characteristics of Successful People. Click the link to read the entire article, but, hint: only part of it is the luck of being in the right place at the right time. Recognizing it and taking advantage of it—oh, and yes, doing lots of schmoozing so that people will think of you at the right moment is a big part of it too. Now that part the jewelry industry already has mastered!