3 top tips for managing your team and your family through change
Has it been a struggle for you and your team to get into remote working this week?
We are constantly told to increase our resilience in the ever changing world. But seriously there are SO many people to juggle through the lockdown situation - our team, our boss, our families, never mind ourselves! And “week 1” has shown many of us just how hard change can be.
So i thought i would pull on my many years of leading change management teams to serve up a reminder of 3 key change principles female bosses may want to remember at the moment:
1. Everyone will go through their own PERSONAL CHANGE CURVE in their own time
I am sure you are all familiar with the change curve.
I have had several friends find themselves in the “valley of despair” already within week 1. You know what - that’s ok. As was my daughter bursting into tears on night 1 when she realised she couldn’t have any playdates. I’ll let you into a secret - i quite like getting cosy with my Netflix down in the valley of despair. But you can’t stay there forever!
So whether its your team or your family members, just be conscious that you won’t all be adjusting at the same speed, some struggle and take more time than others. Bear with the tantrums in the anger phase (hint: the adults' ones can be worse than the kids!) and spot those that have gone quiet because they are down in the valleys. Be patient and everyone will get there when they are ready
2. Manage ALL stakeholders expectations clearly and consistently
Let’s face it you normally have more separation between your key stakeholders. You can go to the office and largely forget the kids exist while school takes care of them. Now you are trying to juggle kids, partners, teams and bosses all at the same time and several of them under the same roof!
Personally i think as we move into week 2 there will be an adjustment as everyone accepts and acknowledges just how productive people can be in these new strange environments we call home, but not as we know it.
But the responsibility lies with you to be realistic about what you can do AND what you can’t do for your many stakeholders. Just like parenting - know your boundaries and manage to them.
And hey, guess what? None of your stakeholders, familial or corporate, are mind readers either - so you are going to have to tell them clearly what they can expect from you over this period.
And on that note.........
3. Know your KEY MESSAGES and repeat them again…….again…….and again
I have inwardly chuckled and sometimes sighed at the online ranting about “people not doing what they are g**dam told”.
Now love her or loathe her, the choice is yours, but one thing Jacinda Adern does well is communicate. She gives clear messages “act like you yourself have Covid 19” and she repeats them. She also shows an appreciation that it takes time for people to adjust (she’s read the change curve) and her team know that people receive communications best depending on their own personal learning style. Hence why we have key messages spoken in news conferences and written on TV screens and pamphlets.
As you navigate your team through these days just remember to be consistent and repetitive in your communications until you know they have it.
Same for the family, “could you please pick your clothes up and put them in the washing basket”.............”pick the clothes up and put them in the washing basket”.........”if you don't pick those frickin’ clothes up and put them in the washing basket I will dump you head first in the basket myself”.........you know, something like that.
Stay awesome working mums!
