The remote work is here to stay and it requires such a significant change in the way we manage work and lead people that very few companies can do it truly well. The hybrid model, though challenging in itself, is a good intermediate step that will allow companies, managers, and workers to adjust step by step.
Each of us is most easily persuaded by ourselves. Listen first. Don’t overwhelm others with data. When you speak, ask lots of questions. Provide trustworthy information, and that means introducing nuance and explain that not everything is rosy.
Learn to recognize what time of the day works for what type of activity for you specifically, and then schedule your day accordingly. Get to bed and wake up at the regular time as much as possible. Routine aligned with your circadian rhythms will work miracles for your productivity.
Use critical thinking, actively search for information from credible sources, listen to opinions different from yours, and focus on the future rather than on the past. Remember, the past was the worst.
Standing up to bullies is a risky proposition. However, that doesn’t change the fact that standing up to bullies is a moral responsibility of every leader and, in fact, of every decent human being. In the end, life is too short to spend it around jerks and bullies.
Take a break. A short, ten to twenty minutes nap followed by face-washing and sitting in a brightly light room with a cup of coffee works the best.
Don’t get seduced by the worship of personality. It is a mistake to latch on only one person, and say that they are the reason behind the success. You may miss all the other factors that played a role and learn the wrong lessons.
Leadership takes effort. When you abdicate your leadership responsibility, you may end up with a myriad of policies and processes that no one understands and follows. Stop solving your people’s problems by creating more and more processes, policies, and reports. Focus on providing leadership and support instead.
With proper routines and habits, you will stop procrastination and become addicted to getting things done. You will be addicted to the good feeling of achieving what you set to achieve.
How do you know whether someone lies to you? You don’t. And that is okay. Use the truth-default setting that nature programmed you with and learn to trust people. It will help you build stronger relationships.
