How I’ve Adapted to Better Manage My Team and Myself

It’s amazing how quickly humans can adapt to radically different environments. That’s certainly been the case these past few months with the rise of social distancing and other pandemic-related behavioral shifts.

As newly remote business leaders, we’ve had to adapt in big ways too.

You could say half of that adaption relates to how we manage our team, and the other half is how we manage ourselves. Both are equally important.

Along these lines, here are some methods that have proven beneficial for me during this crisis. 

Managing Your Team

? Reset your expectations. To compensate for highly dynamic work-from-home settings, let go of when and how tasks are accomplished. Allow team members to handle their responsibilities on their own terms. Offer more flexibility.

? Stay in regular contact. Don’t let an employee go a day without checking in. Hold a huddle each day, ideally using a video platform like Teams or Zoom. Set the expectation that everyone be present and not distracted.

? Continually gauge stress and engagement levels. Make it crystal clear to your team members that your top priority is their well-being. Take time to monitor their engagement by periodically asking them how they are doing.

? Model optimism and drain the team of fear. Your optimism is contagious. Leaders who demonstrate hopefulness and confidence in the future are better able to help their team members, especially under stressful conditions. Fear paralyzes, freezes initiative and ties up creativity.

? Update, even if there’s no update. Uncertainty fuels anxiety. The more you communicate and share, the less chance angst will be developed. Maintaining transparency through this crisis is the ultimate expression of good faith, empathy and genuine concern for your team.

? Provide opportunities for remote social interaction. Plan some fun interactions like coffee breaks or happy hours. Share your favorite albums, pictures of your WFH space, two truths and a lie, etc. 

Managing Yourself

For the second half of our equation, I’m finding it helps to ask myself these six questions on a daily basis:

? What am I grateful for today? I write down a list of 10 things each night.

? Who am I checking in on today? In addition to connecting with all my direct reports via video or IM daily, I’m Facetiming family and holding Zoom meetings with friends in the evening.

? What expectations of “normal” am I letting go of today? I’m focusing on what is in front of me today, or frankly what needs to be done in the next hour. First things first. 

? How am I getting outside today? I’m walking my dogs and weeding my yard. 

? How am I moving my body today? By doing yoga, riding my bike and taking an online dance class via Instagram.

? What am I doing for others today?  I’m participating in a local food drive and spending time with my elderly neighbor Marilyn.

Closing Thought

How have you adapted recently? In the comments, share one tip that’s worked for you.