Category: remote/hybrid work

The Hardest part of becoming a manager might surprise you

After twenty years of working with leaders across sectors, I’ve noticed that the transition into management tends to catch people off guard — not because of the complexity of the role, but because of how personal it turns out to be.

The shift from individual contributor to team leader is as much an identity shift as a skills shift. Your job is no longer to be the best at the work. It’s to create conditions where others can do their best work. That means trusting people before you’re fully certain they’re ready, and measuring your success by their outcomes rather than your own output.

Most of us need a little help making that transition well. That’s what my upcoming course with SFU Continuing Studies is designed to do.

Managing Others and Delegating Effectively runs over two virtual mornings, May 21 and 22. We’ll work through the mindset shifts, practical frameworks, and real strategies that help new and emerging leaders move from doing to leading.

I’d love to see you there. Register here.

Essential Skills for Hybrid and Remote Work

The brilliant Alexandra Samuel, one of the world’s leading experts on thriving digital workplaces, has put together a checklist of the key competencies and skills needed to successfully – and happily! – navigate hybrid or fully remote work. Whether you’re a brand new employee starting your first job or a seasoned professional recently transitioning to hybrid work, or supporting other remote employees on your team, these skills, habits and strategies can be game-changers.

With her permission, here’s the same checklist in the form of an anonymous short survey.

See Alexandra’s original blog post, with her at-a-glance checklist, here. Print out the checklist on Alexandra’s site, or take the 3-minute survey, and reflect: What are the top three skills or habits you’re currently using that feel most effective?  And what are the three areas you might want to tune-up in order to get work done with greater ease and impact? 

There’s no ‘right answer’ – I love that one of Dr. Samuel’s constant caveats is that your digital work practices need to work for your unique strengths and needs – there is no ‘one size fits all’.  What makes YOU feel happy, energized, and able to more easily focus on your priorities?

If you’re ready to learn about a ton of strategies and tips that can bring more joy and ease to your remote and hybrid work life, either for yourself or as a team leader, see Alexandra’s snappy, info-packed online LinkedIn course on remote and hybrid work here.