?? Is Your Team Feeling Overwhelmed? Run Some Small, Simple Experiments.

Welcome to our Management Tip of the Day Newsletter. It's all about adapting, collaborating, and managing in this new normal we find ourselves in. Each week, we bring you awesome business insights with a friendly twist. The world is changing fast - new trends, shifting cultures, and all that jazz - turning the usual into something new and exciting. So, if you're up for some curiosity and exploration, come to learn, and grow with us. Ready to dive in? Join us now! ??

By Darcy Eikenberg l August 25, 2023

When things are going wrong and work feels chaotic, it seems obvious that the team or company needs to try something new. However, committing to a new direction during times of change can feel overwhelming and risky. So actively encourage small experiments, test runs, or pilot programs instead. These may be more fruitful ways to surface fresh ideas while alleviating people’s anxiety about the future.

For example, if your team needs more space in their days to adapt to all the changes coming their way, brainstorm a number of experiments to try to add hours (and energy) back to all of their schedules. This might include canceling a weekly status meeting, using countdown timers in scheduled meetings to keep people from running over, or pausing efforts on a weekly report to test if it can be done less frequently.

Make the experiments small, specific, and time-bound to help disrupt the current pattern of thinking. They will give your team much-needed encouragement to be curious and examine different perspectives, even amidst what feels like chaos. Tiny changes could make a huge difference.