First Thing Monday #34
This week we learn how to prevent email apnea, prep for X-Men '97, and make the most out of data entry and reporting 👃✖️📊
🌞 Welcome to this week’s edition of First Thing Monday. Is it just me, or does the sound of the coffee grinder on a Monday morning feel extremely comforting?
☑️ FTM is a weekly newsletter that includes a recap of all the news Millennial and Gen Z leaders need to know to help make better career decisions. Each issue includes four tips for developing better relationships in your workplace. Weekly issues come out on Monday mornings!
❓ Have a work question or topics you’d like us to discuss? Drop me a line 📱 simply reply to this email or leave us a comment below!
I’m Jon Cochran, a consumer goods executive with 15 years of experience leading sales, marketing, and product development teams and working with brands like J.Crew, Hilton, and Mattel. I want to provide resources to help you take control of your career and maximize your satisfaction in the workplace.
⏰ What to read before your first meeting:
We Regret To Inform You That You May Have ‘Email Apnea’ and Not Even Realize It (GQ): Ever feel stressed while checking email? You might be experiencing "email apnea," unconsciously holding your breath due to email-related anxiety. This can lead to a cycle of stress, poor focus, and even health problems. My key takeaway? Regularly check your breathing throughout the day and practice deep breathing exercises. Additionally, limit email checking, create a designated schedule block for emails, and use technology (I like Cloze) to lighten the load.
Workplace Wellbeing: Addiction assistance in the workplace (Irish Examiner): Substance abuse is a growing problem in workplaces around the world, impacting up to 14% of employees in Ireland and leading to issues like absenteeism and safety concerns. While addiction can be debilitating, it's also treatable. The article suggests employers can play a crucial role by creating clear policies, fostering open communication about addiction, and offering practical support to employees seeking recovery. This supportive environment not only benefits the employee's well-being but also contributes to a healthier and safer workplace for everyone.
Who Still Works From Home? (NY Times): Remote work is here to stay, but the benefits aren't shared equally. College-educated, white-collar workers, especially White and Asian people, are most likely to work remotely, while those in lower-wage jobs or Black and Hispanic people are more likely to work in person. This workplace divide is significant for several reasons. While remote work is a win for women, especially mothers with young children, and people with disabilities (notably those who can fully work from home), it also leaves behind those in essential jobs and reinforces existing racial and socioeconomic inequalities.
Top Ways I've Learned to Keep Motivation High in an Asynchronous Workplace (Entrepreneur): As someone who works in a hybrid office and asynchronously (without the regular back-and-forth of the traditional office), I've noticed motivation can be a struggle sometimes, especially when missing the social aspects of the office. We have to remember that empathy and clear communication are crucial to organizational culture. Recognizing employees' efforts and setting expectations for response times help maintain motivation in an asynchronous environment. To promote clear communication, consider reaching out to your manager and colleagues to discuss their preferred communication methods and response times.
Work Hits Different When You’ve Got a Gen Z Boss (Wall Street Journal): Gen Z is shaking things up in the management world with its unique leadership style. High on emotional intelligence, they prioritize clear communication and understanding their teams' preferences. This isn't just lip service - they actively seek input on how each team member works best. Imagine a manager who uses Zoom for one person who thrives on interaction, while giving another a hands-off approach because they prefer independent work. This focus on individual needs extends beyond communication styles. The article also highlights a situation where a young manager adjusted deadlines after realizing his team wasn't slow, just working under the wrong expectations. This adaptability goes a long way in fostering a more flexible and supportive work environment.
🚰 The Water Cooler
As a die-hard X-Men household, we're incredibly excited for the upcoming X-Men '97 series! To refresh our memories, my husband (a huge fan of the original X-Men: The Animated Series) recommended checking out this list of the 15 best episodes.
Leave Oprah alone! This article fixates on the size of Oprah's zipper on a dress, but trust me, the runway version was way more outrageous!
The Pop Pantheon podcast's Black Eyed Peas episode was eye-opening. When the discussion shifted to Fergie's similarities in rapping style to Missy Elliott, I was shook!
Cardi B is dropping hit singles like nobody's business! Is a whole album coming in 2024? Who knows!? With these jams, I think I might be okay waiting!
📖 Reflections for this week:
For yourself: Seeing news of mergers, acquisitions, layoffs, and a general air of change at other companies can be nerve-wracking, but you can take control! Reach out to colleagues across departments, starting with a peer. Understanding how other teams function gives you a broader view of the company and helps you anticipate potential changes that might impact your role. Don't wait for news to come to you - actively seek out company updates and attend information sessions. By staying informed and engaged, you'll be better equipped to handle any changes that come your way.
For your boss: Feeling the pressure of change? Use your one-on-one meeting with your boss to showcase leadership! After expressing your concerns and offering support, suggest ways you and your team can proactively contribute to the company's evolving needs. Perhaps this means volunteering for a cross-functional task force or offering to develop a training program to upskill your team for potential changes. This proactive approach demonstrates your initiative and helps your boss navigate uncertainty with a strong team by their side.
For your direct report(s): Economic shifts can also create anxiety for your team. Foster a sense of stability by holding open conversations to discuss their concerns. Go beyond information sharing, though, and be a supportive leader. Actively listen to their anxieties and acknowledge their emotions. Share updates transparently and be a resource for them. This empathetic approach can build trust and help your team navigate change together.
For your co-workers: Time is precious for everyone! Maximize your co-worker connections by planning focused knowledge-sharing sessions, not just coffee chats or lunches. Reach out to colleagues with relevant expertise and suggest quick, targeted discussions. Identify specific topics or challenges your team faces that you’d like to discuss. This value-driven approach builds relationships efficiently and equips you to navigate change with a broader perspective.
⚡️ And one last thing…
Data isn't just about numbers in rows and columns – it's the lifeblood of informed decision-making. Imagine having to make a critical decision with only a hunch. Data serves as the compass guiding your choices in the right direction. Reports and spreadsheets, while not always the most thrilling work, offer valuable insights into customer behavior, market trends, and the overall health of your organization. By understanding these metrics, you can make strategic choices that drive growth, improve efficiency, and ultimately, lead your team to success.
Now, the struggle with deciphering reports and conquering spreadsheets is real. One minute you're strategizing with your team, the next you're...lost in a spreadsheet labyrinth. Feeling overwhelmed? Don't worry! This survival guide will equip you to transform those spreadsheet struggles into strategic victories. Let's turn data entry from a chore into a chance to empower your team and drive results.
1. Leverage Technology:
Data entry and report generation shouldn't consume your entire day. Explore data automation tools with your IT department or colleagues. Many companies have software that can streamline these processes. Here's a good starting point: ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tools can automate the process of pulling data from various sources, transforming it into a usable format, and loading it into the cloud or another destination. Investigate options like Fivetran or Hevo Data to see if they might be a good fit for your team's needs.
2. Delegate and Empower:
Don't be a data entry hero! Delegate tasks to team members who enjoy working with numbers. This provides them with valuable learning opportunities and exposes them to the inner workings of your organization. They can develop new skills in data analysis and reporting, and it frees you to focus on strategic initiatives and higher-level tasks that require your managerial expertise.
3. Gamify the Grind:
Instead of individual reports, consider creating a collaborative data dashboard. Assign team members specific data entry tasks and set clear goals for each metric. Track progress visually with a fun, themed leaderboard. Offer small rewards, like comp days, for reaching milestones. A collaborative dashboard encourages team members to see the bigger picture and how their work contributes to the overall goals.
4. Focus on the "Why":
Data isn't just numbers on a spreadsheet - it tells a story! Help your team understand how their meticulous data entry contributes to the bigger picture. Don't just assign tasks - share real-world examples of how accurate and timely data has impacted past decisions and company success. This could be anything from identifying a new marketing target audience to optimizing product development based on customer insights.
5. Prioritize and Plan:
Let's face it, data entry isn't exactly the most thrilling task. The urge to procrastinate is ever present! Here's the secret weapon: schedule dedicated data entry and reporting blocks. Treat them like focused workouts – short, intense bursts of effort. Instead of looming over your entire day, block out specific time slots that are non-negotiable. This focused approach helps you power through these tasks efficiently without letting them consume your time.
Remember, as a new manager, your time is valuable. By implementing these strategies, you can tame the data beast and free yourself to focus on the people and projects that truly drive results. Embrace technology, empower your team, and inject some creativity - and watch how your decisions get grounded in evidence, not just intuition.
Have a great day!
Follow me on Instagram at @misterfantastik
I can't listen to Fergie in the same way now!
The data reporting stuff this week is super timely for me--thank you!