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Interacting w/ Team
I'm new to my organization and have only met my boss and my team via Zoom. I want to make sure that I'm reaching out to my staff and checking in on their well-being while we continue to work from home. Being new is also challenging because I'm trying to get to know these individuals.
I've been scheduling 15 min. one-on-one Zoom meetings once a week with each of them to find out how their week is going, how their family is doing, and if they need anything from me. I know Zoom fatigue is real, so I'm keeping these meetings short, but I sort of feel like a broken record, and like I'm asking the same questions. I just want to convey to them that they're doing a great job, and that I'm available and truly care. I want to be effective while also giving them a sense of who I am since we're learning and meeting each other virtually.
I'm looking for suggestions on how else to connect and interact w/ my team, and what else I should be asking them in these meetings.
Jelle Jasmin Manuel
59
07/15/20 at 3:23AM UTC
Casually checking in with team members, some were able to share the reasons for their anxieties and we were able to discuss non work-related concerns also.
Lauren RiosOnline Higher Education | Education Management
478
07/08/20 at 3:17AM UTC
I have to agree with Barb as well! My previous job was remote, and I think this is perfect with you checking in with them. I did this with my team and they appreciated the check-ins.
Tiffany RasmussenSenior Business Analyst with 8 years experience
193
07/08/20 at 2:29AM UTC
Couldn’t agree more with everything Barb said above.
Just want to add a kudos to you because I personally greatly appreciate casual, non-project related check ins.
Barb HansenStartup Product, Growth & Strategy
6.67k
07/08/20 at 4:08AM UTC (Edited)
Zoom fatigue is real so you might want to schedule a phone call every few meetings or so, just to shake things up.
I have always had weekly/biweekly one-on-ones with my staff depending on how many directs I had (phone calls, zooms, in-persons) and those first few meetings with a new team can be challenging (unless there is trouble in the company, department or team as it's usually easy to get people to talk if there are troubles brewing, but we'll set dealing with a broken troubled team to the side)
Here are some of the questions that I like to cover with new direct reports over the first month or so:
1) What are your favorite things to work on?
2) What do you feel are your strengths?
3) What have your past managers done that you’d like me to also do or not do?
4) What are your career goals and where did your last manager leave off with them? (see my comment below on this one)
5) How do you like to receive feedback? What works best for you?
6) How do you like to receive praise or recognition?
7) What’s something you do regularly outside of work that’s really important to you?
I don't go into my first meeting with the list of questions above that have to be answered immediately because organic conversations are always better.
Note on the "what is your career path" question:
I manage dev/tech/product teams, and in the development teams I have run into the situation plenty of time where a solid and talented staff member is happy with their job - "all i want to do is code" - and all they want for their career path is to keep working.
I make a note to discuss this topic in a future meeting. In future meetings, I ask about any new code languages or types of projects they want to work on, and then I build opportunities for them to learn that new language or put them on the types of projects that they want to work one.
I don't like just leaving direct reports who are happy in their job and don't want to rise up the career ladder in the same spot -- those direct reports need to be nurtured and supported as well, as those employees become our senior mentors for junior staff and continue to build amazing, and elegantly sophisticated products.
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