How to Become a Supportive Manager in the Tough Times?

by | Jan 24, 2022 | Management

A gradient background with shades of orange, pink, and yellow features a square orange frame and a stylized white cloud in the center. Inside the cloud, the text reads: "Tough times never last but tough people do," reminding you of a supportive manager. Decorative arrows and diamond shapes complete the design.

It is often challenging for managers to handle teams in tough times. But when there is some disturbing news, the brains of your teams may be wandering elsewhere. It gets challenging to support people and get work done with the desired efficiency in this situation.

People often feel upset, overwhelmed, and anxious when they experience uncertainty. It can further lead to an unhealthy cycle with more distractions. Therefore, it is crucial to find practical ways to lead human management in this scenario. Below we have listed a few tips and tricks from Global Investment Strategies to become a supportive manager in tough times.

Take time to process your emotions.

You can support your model resiliency and team in a better manner only if you manage and acknowledge your stress first. It is good to take some time to deal with your anxiety and emotions. Try to understand your feelings and establish a safe distance between them so that you can make careful decisions while aligning with your values. Once you can manage your own emotions, it will be easier to inspire your teams to perform well.

Acknowledge the happenings

Bottling your emotions or expecting employees to follow the same approach can be counter-productive behavior. Such great distress and concern feelings are genuine; they cannot be denied, ignored, or repressed. However, it is not good to pretend that everything is okay; instead, you should learn to acknowledge what is happening. While respecting your feelings, you may also need to affirm the situation of your team members. It may soon help you maintain a positive work environment while delivering enhanced quality to the clients.

Encourage self-compassion

Your team members may face losses during challenging conditions. Many may wonder how their teammates maintain everything exceptionally well while losing performance. It is better to encourage them to keep self-compassion while acknowledging that stress is every day. Managers also need to motivate their employees to handle psychological responses to help manage their energies. When you are experiencing stress, admit it and look for some reliable solutions to deal with the anxiety.

Ask people about their needs.

It is good to have one-to-one interactions with your employees and give them enough time to express their thoughts. Start with some prospective talking by putting yourself in their situation. Try to understand their feelings and show empathy with trust. It can help to enter a problem-solving mode, and you can handle current challenges more effectively. Put some flexibility to work schedules while reducing distractions. Give more priority to self-care so that your employees can have a better work-life balance. It will automatically help them perform better at work.

When you are willing to support your teams in the tough times, it is better to pay attention to your employees’ problems. When you encourage them to take care of themselves, they will feel valued at your company and likely work with enhanced performance.