Managing remote teams can be complicated, exhausting, and disappointing if you let it. That’s a big dose of accountability to start, and we know it. It’s 2024, though, and remote work is not slowing down. If anything, it’s going to become more and more appealing over time, especially for high-skilled professionals. So, you’ll want to get ahead of…
Workplace autonomy, upon appearance, often seems like the antithesis of team management, but especially of productivity. Many a manager reading this post clicked on it begrudgingly. In your experience, workplace autonomy (meaning paying people to not do their jobs) is a trend that will die off when people realize it’s useless. It makes people chase unrealistic ideals, it…
The idea of self-managed teams tends to scare people. They associate the term with chaotic days, fat invoices, and poor output. But that’s their fear talking. In all reality, self-managed teams are a blessing for organizations that can use them and do so properly. The problem is that that’s a rare group. The most glaring features of self-managed…
Self-managed teams are a new phenomenon that has overtaken the modern workplace. Gone are the days of team management being synonymous with peaking over employees’ shoulders and making every practical decision for them. People want autonomy more than ever, especially skilled or specialized team members and traditional management techniques stifle that. So, companies are opening up to the…
One-on-one meetings are simultaneously the most important and overlooked aspects of team management. Rarely are they used as intended. When done, they are short, problem-centric, and generally very ineffective. And it’s sad because when handled correctly, one-on-one meetings are the most powerful tool in any manager’s arsenal. They unite, encourage, and center the team in a way few…
Becoming a manager for the first time in your life is a really big deal. You have to detach yourself from the value of your individual performance and tune into something bigger. Your value system, the way you navigate challenges, and how you do your job all have to adjust. And that change can feel overwhelming. You can…
Team performance management might seem like a fantastical idea consisting of lists, expectations, and lofty goals, but it’s so much more. In its purest form, it’s about showing your team they can exceed the limits they’ve set for themselves and that they have way more potential than they realize. It’s so much more than a way to control…
As we explore team management and what it means to our fellow members of leadership, we also have to compare the differences between a team lead vs a manager. While these terms are often used interchangeably, it’s important to understand just how different they are. A team leader is on the ground ensuring that progress is made, team…
Compared to other management styles, agile team management is rarely given the spotlight it deserves. Mostly, those leading agile teams simply try to balance doing their jobs and not getting in the way of their team. It’s not a bad strategy, but it’s probably not as effective as you’d hope. Agile team management is a very new leadership…