You know the manager you can always count on?
They answer questions, handle the awkward conversations, and find a way to keep things moving. When someone needs help, they make time.
They’re probably the person you worry about the least.
When was the last time you asked how they were doing?
Getting it done doesn’t mean it’s been easy
A team can hit its goals while its manager is answering messages after dinner, covering a staffing gap, or putting off their own work to help everyone else.
You may not hear about it. They might think handling it all is part of the job. Or they know how busy you are and don’t want to add one more thing.
A regular check-in gives them room to bring it up before they reach their limit.
Go a little beyond the status update
You’ve talked about deadlines and team performance. Leave a few minutes for the person responsible for all of it.
Try asking:
- What’s taking more of your time than it should?
- Is there a conversation you could use some help with?
- What could we take off your plate or make easier?
Then give them time to answer. You don’t have to solve everything on the spot. Start by understanding what’s going on.
Follow through on what you hear
If everything is a priority, help them decide what can wait. If they’re struggling with feedback, talk through the conversation together. If they spend their day chasing updates, look at how information gets shared.
Then check back. Did it help? What still needs attention?
That follow-up shows them they weren’t just filling time on your calendar. You heard them, and what they shared mattered.
Your managers spend a lot of time helping other people succeed. Let’s make sure someone is doing the same for them.
Let’s make supporting your managers easier
Schedule a personalized demo with Performance Scoring. We’ll learn how your team works and show you how we customize check-ins, feedback, performance tracking, and reviews around your processes. Our team will help you get started and support you along the way.
Schedule your personalized demo or start your free trial today!
References and Further Reading
- Harvard Business Review: Managers Are Burned Out. Here’s How to Help Them Recharge.
Practical guidance on supporting overwhelmed managers. hbr.org - Gallup: The Manager Squeeze: How the New Workplace Is Testing Team Leaders
Research on the competing demands managers face and the support they need. gallup.com - Gallup: The Antidote to Manager Burnout
Ways organizations can strengthen manager support, connection, and wellbeing. gallup.com - Center for Creative Leadership: Culture, Leadership & Wellbeing Are Interconnected
How everyday leadership practices can support wellbeing for managers and their teams. CCL - Harvard Business Review: Managers Can’t Do It All
A look at how the manager’s job has changed.
