Your team is part of your extended family. They are not some distant object to manage.
Hi there and welcome. It’s Kerstin Jatho here from 4 Seeds Consulting, a transformational coach who shifts people from languishing to flourishing. In this video, I want to talk to you about removing arm’s length relationships with your team.
When I joined the corporate world and took on a leadership role, the first tip of advice I received was to remain at an arm’s length relationship with my team, to keep a distance, not to stay too close to them. It was a principle that didn’t resonate with me then. And it isn’t a principle that resonates with me now.
Your team is part of your extended family.
They are not some distant object to manage. And the more they are part of your family, the more productive they are, the better that they perform, and the more you actually achieve the objectives. They are human beings. They want to be part of you. They want to feel a belonging, and they want to have you.
What the challenge is with arm’s length relationships is that leaders feel safe. They don’t have to embrace a vulnerable space because an arm’s length relationship creates distance, and distance is safety. You are not as close to your team as you should be.
However, there come limitations with that and that is communication gets in the way. Perhaps you’re not as available as you should be. Ideas are not shared as equally and as quickly as they can be. Hence, right now with the pandemic and the hybrid workplace, the arm’s length relationships absolutely need to be removed. Your team wants to know that you are accessible at very quick and very short notice. They want to know that you are human and that you are perhaps engaging and going through the same challenging times that they are going through. They want to know that you are available.
Hence remove the arm’s length relationships. It brings in way more productivity, performance, communication, creativity, and enhances the entire situation. You can lead as effectively, if not even more if you remove the arm’s length relationship. Remember, your team is an extension of you. They are not some foreign object.
Thank you for listening and I look forward to connecting with you in the next one.
Over to you for sharing your comments and experiences.
What’s your experience been with managing your team at an arm’s length distance?
About the Author: Kerstin Jatho
Kerstin is the senior transformational coach and team development facilitator for 4Seeds Consulting. She is also the author of Growing Butterfly Wings, a book on applying positive psychology principles during a lengthy recovery. Her passion is to develop people-centred organisations where people thrive and achieve their potential in the workplace. You can find Kerstin on LinkedIn, Soundcloud, YouTube and Facebook.
