How do you feel about managing your team remotely?
I was talking with a team leader who absolutely HATES it.
“I’m working TWICE as hard to be HALF as effective.”
She was used to regularly walking the halls for casual, face-to-face check-ins.
Most of her team is reluctant to ask for help, so she had to SEE them to notice if they were holding back an issue before it blew up.
Now she must read minds over wifi, decode IM chats, and listen for clues in tone over the phone.
She put all the pressure on herself to be the safety net for her team and help them avoid a mistake.
That’s MUCH harder to do remotely and she’s EXHAUSTED and STRESSED.
As a manager, it’s important to find the balance between SUPPORT and CONTROL.
When your team seeks you out with a question, concern or update, you SUPPORT.
Sometimes your intuition tells you something is off and you check in. It’s the exception, not the rule.
When you feel the need to constantly check in to SAVE them from themselves, that’s CONTROL.
And trying to control others will always lead to stress.
If you’re exhausted managing your team now that they’re remote, pay attention to how you’re checking in with them and why.
Try to spot the difference between SUPPORT and CONTROL to protect your own wellbeing.
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