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Check in with a Thought of the Day

MANY MANAGERS PASS ALONG a thought of the day to those with whom they work: a virtual “stand-up” meeting if you will. This e-mail could be a quote, a message related to your business, or simply a reminder to your team. Whatever the case, a simple daily thought to your team members is a great way to develop their knowledge and skills. If you don’t feel as though you have the time, then see if someone on your team is willing to complete this task.

You could also rotate the duties because, as we will discuss, teaching is the highest form of learning. Connecting with those with whom you work, even through e-mail, lets them know that you care and are accessible. On hectic days, you may even let your team know of a couple of good times to pop in with questions. Research by Kelloway and colleagues found that effective leadership could be detected through leaders’ e-mails. Make your e-mails upbeat and encouraging to those around you.¹⁰ Remember, emotions and the tone of your correspondence can make all the difference in the world.

This approach is a good way to manage virtual teams, as well, because it makes team members feel in touch. However, remember that e-mail/texting can be abused, and some are better at reading these regularly than others. Be sure the daily e-mail is brief, is to the point, and has meaningful information for the receiver. Otherwise, it may fall victim to the “automatic delete.” Make this the first task you complete each morning.