John PeltierJan 24, 2023
Michael Eaton

If I could offer one piece of advice to leaders/managers everywhere, it would be this:

If you take the day off, don't drop into the team chat. Don't drop into the team standup. Don't show up to any meetings. Don't send emails.

It sets a terrible example. It tells your team that even when they're off they should be "on". It's disrespectful. It's NOT being a leader.

Disconnect. Trust that the team will be fine without you. Come back refreshed and THEN do those things.

#leadership

Jan 23, 2023 at 9:03pmWeb
Show threadJeffJan 24, 2023
@mjeaton Took me awhile to grasp this as a developer turned manager. I wanted to “be there” for my team, but what they really needed was for me to step aside and let them shine. I think the fact I was a former team member working in the trenches along side them made that separation more difficult.
Show threadMichael EatonJan 24, 2023

@box464 That was my experience as well and why I think I burned out in my first leadership gig. I was trying to do too much and always be there.

At one point, my VP at the time told me to take a couple weeks off because he could see I needed the break. I completely disconnected for those two weeks and guess what? The team survived. 🙂

Show threadJim SalvucciJan 24, 2023
@mjeaton wonderful point! Also set a time when you won’t respond to messages unless they are true emergencies and after which you don’t send messages.