This sentence, Satya – Microsoft CEO mentioned few weeks ago in one of his interviews talking about the new world of work. Loved this message and so thought of writing about it a bit more.
Isn’t it true that with all the remote work and not been able to see your fellow colleagues around you makes it super tough to build a lasting relationship? For once, managers are realizing how critical this issue is. Although, it has existed since long just wasn’t noticed by many.
Being experienced all the aspects of this mix i.e.
- Part of team where I was physically accessible to my chief
- Part of team where I was in a different location and only worked remotely besides annual meetups
- Led a team having them around me
- Led a remote team
gave me a chance to know how it feels to not be included when a lot of your colleagues are there together while you aren’t.
Yes, it isn’t that exterme when most of us went remote but still the element of “feel” wasn’t at the level required to build strong relations. A comparing example of when I led teams having them around me vs the remote ones is that the one who worked months and years next to me still are in touch and we have found ways to interact and collaborate. If given an opportunity to work again, I am certainly able to count on most of them to say yes to it.
On the other hand, the people whom I worked with face to face, when moved locations and the relationship became distant and remote, honestly it started making no difference to where we were and who we worked for. The feeling of belonging to the bigger purpose faded.
So with all the change happening in the way we work, and at least for the people who have known the old world where it was easy to walk to someone to have a discussion, share your achievements or worries over a coffee, or brainstorm together to a voila moment, needs a replacement. All that, may be assisted by some tools but have to be executed by the managers.
This is where it all comes down to, who are your managers and are they able to execute model of care with their teams. Organization s need to speed up and take steps to ensure hiring of managers, their evaluations, peer reviews, and career developments includes high weightage of care. Organizations will need managers who have that growth mindset, who have the ability to listen and worry about their teams. We know that Big Quit is here and is happening and that’s why time is now.
Some tips for managers with growth mindset willing to exercise care:
- Be real and transparent to your team
- Relate to them, make them feel comfortable
- Go above and beyond for your team’s personal needs
- Find ways to improve their experiences
- Make time for them and most of all
- Strive hard to know their expectations from you
Start your day with asking yourself what good do I do this day
And whether remote or not, the element of care is now essential more than ever to building teams and organizations. As the distinct lines between life and work fade away, as work becomes an integrated part of life, and work-life balance becomes a concept of past, employees will be looking up to organizations and managers to care for them, to understand their individualistic needs and the organizations who understand this and capitalize on it, will outshine.
Nice article
Thank you Kashif!