Welcome to Issue 16 of the Manager TLDR!
One of our biggest takeaways from this week’s #ManagerChats was that we’re not alone in what we’re going through right now. If you’ve felt a bit anxious or overwhelmed this week, we want you to know that everyone is leading through this crisis without a playbook and that can be challenging at times. 🙏
We hope that these four articles help you and your team avoid burnout and find ways to adapt to our current situation.
☝️ To take care of others, you need to take care of yourself
TLDR: We can’t share with others a resource that we lack ourselves. The critical starting point to support your team is to take care of your own mental health:
- Begin with keeping to your normal routine as much as possible.
- Ask for help (from colleagues, family, and friends) when you need it.
- Express appreciation and call out triumphs, no matter how small.
🌴 We’re trying a 4-day work week for the month of May
TLDR: This week, Buffer’s CEO announced that for the month of May, the company will operate under a 4-day work week as a way to prioritize mental health and avoid burnout. Here are some lessons you can take away from this announcement:
- In times like these, it’s important to take a pulse on people’s moods.
- Ask employees for suggestions and ways you could support them.
- Be nimble and adaptive in discovering the best setup for your team.
📈 How to manage a sales team, with Ivy Gordon of Unbounce
TLDR: We sat down with Unbounce’s Head of Sales and discussed tips for motivating your team and building rapport when working remotely. Here are some highlights:
- If you’re having a bad day, it’s always better to let your team know.
- Create a culture where employees can expect to get immediate feedback.
- Use meeting icebreakers like Table Topics to build rapport.
📚 Top 9 book recommendations for managers and leaders
TLDR: If you want to use this time to work on your professional development, this is a great place to start. Aydin Mirzaee (CEO of Fellow.app) wrote a list of 9 books that will help you lead with confidence and advance in your career. Some titles include:
- Smarter, Better, Faster by Charles Duhigg.
- First, Break All The Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman.
- The Making of a Manager by Julie Zhuo.
