Navigating Post-COVID Challenges
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Managing people today is harder than it was five years ago. You have to worry about things managers never used to think about.
Lesson 5.1: The Mental Health Crisis
The pandemic was hard on everyone. Today, many employees are struggling with burnout, stress, and "the great detachment."
As a manager, you are now a "custodian of well-being." You need to check in on your team—not just to ask about their tasks, but to ask how they are. High-school-level empathy is simple: just listen. Sometimes, a 15-minute conversation about life can do more for productivity than a two-hour meeting about spreadsheets.
Lesson 5.2: Finding Purpose
Remote workers often feel disconnected from the company's mission. They are just sitting at a laptop in their bedroom. Your job is to remind them why their work matters.
- Does your software help people save time?
- Does it make life easier for small businesses?
- Is it helping the environment?
People want to know their work makes a difference. If they feel like they are part of a mission, they will work much harder than if they just feel like a "cog in a machine."
Lesson 5.3: Managing a Global Team
Many startups now hire people from all over the world. Irv Shapiro’s own teams have included people from Pakistan, England, Canada, Zimbabwe, and the USA.
Managing a global team requires:
- Clear Communication: Since you can't always meet in person, your written instructions must be perfect.
- Respect for Time Zones: Don't expect someone in Zimbabwe to answer an email at 2:00 PM Chicago time.
- Cultural Awareness: Understand that different cultures have different ways of communicating.