Dear Yogesh,

I am a newly appointed manager in a leading software development company in Delhi, and my biggest challenge is dealing with my new team of seven people. While I realize that these people are a lot different than me in terms of their approach to work, processes, and attitude, I am still trying to manage them the way I have been managed in the past.

I stepped into my new role and responsibilities after my manager left. These are the people I have been working with, for a few weeks. Managing work amid the situation of crisis and in a work-from-home format has become a lot more challenging for me.

Times are tough, and everything around us has been impacted due to COVID-19. I am still trying to cope with this sudden transition.

Can you please help me understand how to make things work?

Regards

Rahul

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Dear Rahul,

The situation you are dealing with currently has become the new normal for everyone around the world. We all have been managing our work while adapting to the same change. You need to calm down and welcome this as a challenge and face it.  Take it as a learning journey and keep moving ahead with confidence. When it comes to handling remote teams, you need to be prepared with plans and a positive mindset.

Remember, you are good that is why you have been promoted to manager. But also understand, that hard work cannot be the only parameter of success.

Be patient, wiser, and generous to your people as this time is difficult and they need your support. To know your people, you must inculcate a habit of listening. Listening to them can be the best way to understand and help them come out of the situation strongly. Make them feel that you are always there for them.

Let me discuss certain things to remember, that can help you go a long way in your leadership journey. Here you go:

Do not read minds, understand them – This is the time to understand your people and support them mentally. This can help you know them better. For some people, it becomes complex to speak up confidently in a virtual setup as compared to in-person meetings. Proper communication can help people feel and stay connected. Talk to every person and ask them for their point of view.

The idea behind it is to make them realize that you will make every effort to help them. It can also be a good way to keep track of their goals and expectations.

Communicating your expectations - It is good to communicate what you feel. Do not let your expectations hide. If you find no scope for improvement, tell them. If you see them working hard, tell them. Communicating your expectations can help you and your people see things from the same perspective. You must remember that good communication is the key. Practicing this can help in achieving a collective goal amid these unprecedented times.

Learn a management model - SLII®. The pace of change today is so rapid that visionary leadership has become need-of-the-hour. Managers like you, need a leadership training program that helps you to be agile, lead situationally, and empower people to succeed. Here, the job is to use your leadership style as per the employee’s development level. This leadership is a mix of direction and support.

We have been teaching this model to help leaders know how to build meaningful connections with coworkers that create exponential impact. It helps leaders provide an appropriate amount of support as and when their people need it. When this happens, employees become more productive and engaged and their organizations thrive.

This can make your people comfortable and help them work comfortably in a work-from-home format. Your support and encouragement can help them stay aligned. Your people need to know that you are there and care for them. It will take some time, but it will be worth it!

Hope I could help you find a way to manage your remote team amid the time of crisis.

Let me know how it worked.

All the best!

Best,

Yogesh

This blog is an adaptation of a recent blog written by Madeleine Homan Blanchard on 2nd May- https://resources.kenblanchard.com/blanchard-leaderchat/just-realized-everyone-doesn-t-see-things-the-same-as-you-do-ask-madeleine

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