I work at a large Tech company and work in a technology leadership role. In this article I wanted share a situation I and my team were in and how I handled it.
A few days ago, I found myself at the center of a classic workplace scenario, one that tested both my leadership capabilities and communication skills.
Early in the day, one of my direct reports approached me, visibly stressed. He had just been handed a daunting list of seven tasks by our superior, all to be completed by the end of the day. Even as a seasoned leader, moments like these can be challenging. How do you ensure your team feels supported while also effectively communicating with upper management?
The sections in this article are the areas I handled subtly, which showcases the importance of time prioritization and effective communication.
1. Calm and Reassure:
Before diving headlong into the problem, I asked my team member to take a breath. I assured him that we’d work through the tasks together, even though I hadn’t yet seen the list.
2. Assess and Prioritize:
We met half an hour later to dissect the tasks. The key was not just to look at the tasks but to prioritize them based on importance and urgency. I have removed the specifics of the tasks however made it easily relatable to my readers. As mentor I would have him articulate the tasks but because of the urgency I articulated the tasks this way: