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When leaders are busy, they can struggle to find the time to connect with their teams. A powerful way to combat this is to get up from your desk and speak with your people. Work with them, ask questions, and offer help when it's needed. This is called management by wandering around. 

It may sound vague, but it's a deliberate and genuine strategy for staying up to date with team members. It can help you to better understand their ways of working and create opportunities to engage with your team. An open dialogue with your people will help them to feel heard, valued and motivated. 

Here are eight tips for managing your team by wandering around. 

First relax. The more relaxed you are, the more at ease your team members will be, and the better you'll connect with them. 

Next, listen and observe. Aim to listen more and talk less. Ask people about what they're working on and any new ideas they have. Make sure you're inclusive. Anyone can have great ideas or need support, so it's important to talk to everybody on your team. Set aside time for those working remotely or on shifts. 

Fourth, recognize good work when you see it. Offering positive on the spot feedback can help your team members feel valued and more confident in their work. You can also take these moments to share good news and business updates and to remind people how their work fits into the bigger picture. 

Small talk is important too. Enjoying a joke with your team, chatting about their hobbies, and learning their kids' names will help you form stronger lasting relationships, but avoid overdoing it. Wander around often enough to get a feel for what's going on, but don't become a distraction. 

Finally, make sure you use the information you gather. Review what you've learned, good and bad, and take action where it's needed. 

To learn more about management by wandering around, see the article that accompanies this video. © 2022 Mind Tools by Emerald Works Limited.