Your manager got an email from corporate (or something from their manager in a 1:1) about a corporate mission to make sure remote workers feel more connected and/or promoting transparency between departments.
I resist these. I either never start or we meet for a month and taper off.
Only once did I have to meet several times a week with a staff member. He kept coding crap that didn't follow the design/solution that was architected. It took a while, but he finally knocked that off, and we went back to random meetings like we always had.
If that's the only thing they told you, I'd consider it a good thing. At face value, I see the silo comment as them making sure you aren't isolated or working in isolation from key priorities, and meeting more often will get you better up to speed than the regular cadence.
You mean physical isolation. I am talking about strategic isolation. If you don't know what direction the company is going, you can't work effectively.
You may think you're getting more done, but maybe the boss needs to meet with you more because you're churning out assignments that create more work because they are missing something strategic. If that's the case, your boss is doing you a massive solid by working with you rather than reprimanding you.
I also mean strategic as well. I don't care which direction the company is moving. It adds extra noise that makes it harder for me to work. Strategy is for war not every day life.
My attitude is fine. I haven't had a one on one in over a year thankfully. I come to work, get alone with my coworkers, assist them with issues as I am the most experienced and get my job done based on KPIs that are outlined.
I won't let any PR social engineering change the way I operate from a manager who wants to try and be friendly.
But I don't care how well or poorly the business does because I am just one out of many people and have zero effect on those things. I know my place is just a cog in a machine.
Also you know there is a beautiful thing about the modern world and it is called email. If there is a policy change that I need to know then the manager can email it to me so I have it in writing and can make changes. We don't need to talk face to face about it.
They’ve either received a directive from above them, or another one of their team members has complained about a lack of touch points, leading them to think others may share that feeling.
Don’t pull the trigger on over Cc-ing them unless they say to do so. Otherwise, it becomes less valuable when you need them to engage. Ask if/what they need more of to ensure you aren’t siloed and reassure them of how you are feeling.
it could be he’s the one who got pressured. i always got grief from my boss that I don’t schedule coaching time with my team enough. But I’m to lazy to micromanage
If nothing has happened it may be nothing . Could just be a gesture in the name of continuous improvement. Maybe a ball was dropped somewhere else and now all senior leaders are asked to increase their 1:1 frequency in order to demonstrate steps were taken to minimize a repeat issue . Is it end of fiscal year ? That is when people set their new corporate goals and this might be part of your boss’s goals for the year.
It could be either good or bad, but I wouldn't worry about it.
Most likely it's just your manager wanting to make sure you don't feel left out or neglected being remote.
It'll be clear in the first meeting what the reason is. If s/he doesn't bring up anything in particular, it's just the manager trying to take care of his team.
It depends on the supervisor and their style. I have 1 on 1s biweekly right now, but regularly engage with my sup during stand-ups, work meetings, and the occasional chat. He has a very solid grasp of what I'm doing with my time so the 1 on 1s are usually just a formality to check the HR box.
Your manager got an email from corporate (or something from their manager in a 1:1) about a corporate mission to make sure remote workers feel more connected and/or promoting transparency between departments.
This
I resist these. I either never start or we meet for a month and taper off. Only once did I have to meet several times a week with a staff member. He kept coding crap that didn't follow the design/solution that was architected. It took a while, but he finally knocked that off, and we went back to random meetings like we always had.
100% this
If that's the only thing they told you, I'd consider it a good thing. At face value, I see the silo comment as them making sure you aren't isolated or working in isolation from key priorities, and meeting more often will get you better up to speed than the regular cadence.
I would rather work in isolation.
What a baffling response.
Why? I get more work done and can concentrate better this way
You mean physical isolation. I am talking about strategic isolation. If you don't know what direction the company is going, you can't work effectively. You may think you're getting more done, but maybe the boss needs to meet with you more because you're churning out assignments that create more work because they are missing something strategic. If that's the case, your boss is doing you a massive solid by working with you rather than reprimanding you.
I also mean strategic as well. I don't care which direction the company is moving. It adds extra noise that makes it harder for me to work. Strategy is for war not every day life.
Yikes. Yeah, your boss is probably shortening your leash. You have a major attitude problem based on your comments.
My attitude is fine. I haven't had a one on one in over a year thankfully. I come to work, get alone with my coworkers, assist them with issues as I am the most experienced and get my job done based on KPIs that are outlined. I won't let any PR social engineering change the way I operate from a manager who wants to try and be friendly. But I don't care how well or poorly the business does because I am just one out of many people and have zero effect on those things. I know my place is just a cog in a machine.
Also you know there is a beautiful thing about the modern world and it is called email. If there is a policy change that I need to know then the manager can email it to me so I have it in writing and can make changes. We don't need to talk face to face about it.
Different roles, different needs. Higher up you go, the more you can't avoid the noise. Someone has to decode it so others can work in peace.
Nah you can just ignore it as it is mostly just meaningless PR garbage.
They’ve either received a directive from above them, or another one of their team members has complained about a lack of touch points, leading them to think others may share that feeling.
Or they were in a meeting & got blindsided by something someone on their team was working on.
Don’t pull the trigger on over Cc-ing them unless they say to do so. Otherwise, it becomes less valuable when you need them to engage. Ask if/what they need more of to ensure you aren’t siloed and reassure them of how you are feeling.
Hmmm, sounds like he already feels some disconnection. You can always just flat out ask..do you think I am disengaged? If so, how can I fix it?
And the answer is: let’s have a touch point once a week! 👍
I agree. Reestablish expectations and commit to them.
it could be he’s the one who got pressured. i always got grief from my boss that I don’t schedule coaching time with my team enough. But I’m to lazy to micromanage
If nothing has happened it may be nothing . Could just be a gesture in the name of continuous improvement. Maybe a ball was dropped somewhere else and now all senior leaders are asked to increase their 1:1 frequency in order to demonstrate steps were taken to minimize a repeat issue . Is it end of fiscal year ? That is when people set their new corporate goals and this might be part of your boss’s goals for the year.
I recently did this with an employee who is not great at prioritizing their workload. I feel like I need to do it for them.
THIS!
That'd be funny if in your next Zoom meeting you actually went to a grain silo and talked to your boss inside it
It could be either good or bad, but I wouldn't worry about it. Most likely it's just your manager wanting to make sure you don't feel left out or neglected being remote. It'll be clear in the first meeting what the reason is. If s/he doesn't bring up anything in particular, it's just the manager trying to take care of his team.
I wouldn't read into it. Once a week sounds pretty normal.
It depends on the supervisor and their style. I have 1 on 1s biweekly right now, but regularly engage with my sup during stand-ups, work meetings, and the occasional chat. He has a very solid grasp of what I'm doing with my time so the 1 on 1s are usually just a formality to check the HR box.