Remote control
All aspects of our working lives have been affected by the worldwide spread of coronavirus and the challenges the resultant lockdown has presented. Many people are working in places that are usually their homes, their ‘break from work’ spaces. Meaning that any associated stress and pressures of these times are centred on their own residences. This can become damaging for mental health and general wellbeing. Managers will have to adapt their management styles to consider new behaviours and conditions.
Home vs office
Self-discipline is very important in these uncertain times. Employees who possess the ability to self-manage will be a huge asset to managers, who themselves are having to evolve to meet the changing face of work. More people are still working from home and many will continue to do so – either by choice, trepidation, or necessity. Until there is a recognised protocol or an immunising vaccine, many workers will probably prefer to remain working from home.
Even if offices are spacious enough to accommodate a large workforce, it is aspects outside of workspaces that can impact employees’ decision-making on home versus office. Travel on public transport, for example, will be a big stumbling block for many people. Mixing with work colleagues and family outside the household is one thing. But sitting next to complete strangers and touching door handles, handrails and other equipment will not be acceptable to some commuters.
Managing the challenge
In this way, management styles will need to change and adapt. For one, the days of micro-management are over. Managers will need to manage and trust their teams to do their jobs, without being constantly observed and without supervision. A great deal of trust will be required on both sides. However, this is being seen as one of the positives that will need to come out of the current situation. Leadership is important in this period – listening, trust and collaboration will all form part of a manager’s role.
It’s also important to embrace technology to make communication easier and teamwork smoother. Whether it’s platforms such as WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams and Zoom, there are many remote collaboration tools out there. Some managers will find relinquishing this degree of control difficult. But coaching can help them understand their management style and adapt to new ways of working. Coaching sessions can be carried out over the internet, via video conferencing. The lockdown restrictions needn’t be seen as a barrier to this taking place. Coaching can help to identify areas where managers are needing to adapt their management style to suit the situation.
Testing times
Talking to someone else can enable managers to see the big picture. This overview can prove very helpful is assessing exactly where a business stands during lockdown. Are the staff happy, are their outputs being sustained, and are they delivering on deadlines without the day-to-day contact with colleagues and management? If the answer’s yes, then great. But if there is room for improvement, this will have to be addressed.
This is where self-discipline will prove invaluable. If you have been furloughed, then you will not be working anyway – but contact with management is still important and a weekly or bi-weekly connection should be retained. Of those who are still doing their jobs from home, some staff may be used to self-motivating. Others may struggle to find a format and routine that works for them. Similarly, adapting a management style will come naturally to some, while for others talking to a coach will be beneficial. Even the most seasoned manager will have something to learn during these testing times that have become a learning curve for us all.
