Listen Before Solving Concerns
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When a team member raises a concern, the manager’s first job is to understand, not to solve. Listen fully and repeat back until they confirm you have captured it. Empathize even when you disagree. Failing here guarantees they will stop sharing and eventually leave. Do not take notes during the conversation: they impede listening, undermine empathy, and chill candor. Stay in the particular. Solve the concrete problem first; address systemic patterns separately.