Business and Marketing

One way to make sure that you provide an adequate amount of supervision is to use project schedule charts. You can develop these charts with your team prior to implementing any project and list ahead of time two types of interventions: (1) the dates on which you and your members will meet to conduct routine status reviews on the project, and (2) the types of performance problems that, should they occur, need to be brought to your attention immediately. Have the project schedule posted on a wall by your team’s work area so that you can quickly glance at it if you feel the need to make an unscheduled progress check.

Resist the tendency to tighten up. I’m sure that your manager has already given you a speech about the need for maintaining tight control over your team until your organization gets back on track. This sounds great, but the question is, control over what? Do you really need to inventory the number of paper clips or pencils used by your group each month?

Provide clear communications. Fight the urge to withdraw from your team and stay in your office. You are your team’s “door of visibility” to the rest of your organization. If the door is closed, your team will feel that it has been locked in the mushroom cellar without access to needed information or direction. Share any and all information you have on important changes now occurring in your company. Be honest about what is fact and what is rumor. Consider having selected team members accompany you to departmental meetings so that they can form their own opinions about impending changes.