Do you find yourself constantly following up with your teams?

Following up with the team is hard. I get it. It is even harder to do it constantly and get a little response from the team. Teamwork is essential for any business, but it’s even more critical for your success as a manager. As a manager, you are responsible for many tasks, and you are expected to deliver that with the help of your team. If you and your team don’t deliver on time, it impacts the team’s performance and overall career progress for everyone involved.

So, where is it going wrong? Is your team not capable enough? Maybe! Or are they not taking enough ownership of their work? Possible. You can’t give up on them just like that. So what can you do?

What if your team felt comfortable coming to you and giving you updates? So the first question to ask yourself is, do they feel comfortable coming to you and discussing their challenges, roadblocks, and failures with you? As a manager, it helps to be approachable and personable. If you become more approachable, you won’t have to follow up that often.

Being approachable is key to building good relationships. It can be challenging to be approachable at first, but it becomes easier with a little bit of practice. Here are three ways to be more approachable:

1. Be aware of your facial expressions and use them to control how people perceive you. For example, a smile can be a powerful tool for building trust and rapport.
2. Be honest and upfront about your needs – don’t make assumptions. This way, the team can be sure that they’re addressing your concerns and that you’re not just asking for favors.
3. Speak in a positive tone – it will show that you’re interested in working with the team. By being positive, you’ll put the team at ease and increase the chances of a successful outcome.

If you want to go deeper, we have listed a few steps that you can implement in behavior and process to become more approachable to your team.

Another common reason managers find themselves in a constant follow-up situation is not setting clear expectations and deliverables. Setting SMART goals helps encourage team members to reach their potential and achieve the goals you’ve set for them. By defining and focusing on the goals, you create a sense of ownership and encourage them to work hard towards them.

Once they know what they are after, they will chase it. As a manager, you won’t have to check with them daily. Isn’t that liberating for everyone involved?

The trick is to do SMART goals properly. Here is a detailed guide on how to do it.

Finally, patience is a virtue when you find yourself in this situation. Practice patience, and you will soon find that the rewards are immense. Remember that everything happens at its own pace and that you shouldn’t try to rush things. When following up with the team, be patient and know that they will eventually get back to you. If you want to take things further, make sure that your follow-up is personal. Sending an email rather than just texting or calling will show that you’ve taken the time to get to know them better and can help create a stronger relationship.

But don’t be this guy 👇

Chances are that your team is under stress, and it would be a great help if you figured out how you could handle those times when everything seems like an uphill climb. In addition, treat each member of the team individually. By communicating with them directly and personally, you will get a lot closer to knowing what they require from you to do their best work.

There are more benefits to practicing patience while leading teams. Here are 6 tips that can help you develop it.

Being approachable and having the ability to practice patience are both essential for any team member. By following up less often, you’ll not only be more likely to connect with your team members, but you’ll also avoid any misunderstandings. I would love to hear from you when you implement these tips. If you face challenges, talk to me.