As soon as you open your doors, you’re ready for business and start pushing forward. There’s one problem. You make the unwitting assumption that your new team knows what you want and how you like to work. This is where bad first impressions and misunderstandings flood a new relationship. No one is at fault. You, along with the rest of us, weren’t conscious of the importance of proactively communicating your management approach and preferences.
What’s the benefit of having a management playbook?
• It forces you to reflect and think about how you like to lead, manage and interact with your team.
• It eliminates the unknown (in this case you) and provides transparency for your team.
• It will dramatically shorten the “getting to know you” phase.
• It will demonstrate humanity by engaging with your team directly. This should be delivered in person and allow for discussion.
• It will set the tone for the culture you want to create.
• It will allow you to demonstrate impact quicker with fewer communication missteps and miscues.
[Original:entrepreneur]
What should be included? Here are some suggested topics.
• Communication: Do you prefer in-person, text, email or phone? Does this vary by situation? For example, in-person during the day but if it’s an emergency, text. Do you expect an immediate response if you send an email during the weekend or is next business day appropriate?
• Involvement in a project once initiated: Do you like regular updates or only at key milestones?
• Mannerisms: Do prefer quick hallway chats or long sit down conversations?
• Process information: Are you more of a cut to the chase person or do you like background and history?
• Feedback: Do you provide on-the-spot comments or at scheduled intervals? Are you open to receive feedback?
• Flextime: What’s your point-of-view on working in the office vs. working remotely?
• Team interactions: Are you more comfortable one-on-one or with groups?