When I first joined my team, I introduced daily check-ins after talking with each team member. As someone new to the leadership role, I framed it as a trial — we'd decide together after one month whether to keep it.
Yesterday, I had to make a tough call: we will keep the daily check-in. While I remain flexible on the timing, I believe strongly in the value of this practice. Some expressed their concern on the flexibility.
But here's what I see:
✅ Faster alignment, fewer misunderstandings
✅ Improved communication and higher productivity
✅ A place to ask questions openly
✅ Obstacles solved more quickly
✅ Stronger team connection in a remote setup
I also recognized a mistake on my part: by presenting the check-in as optional, I tried to please everyone — when in fact, I already knew it was essential for me as a leader. This was a valuable learning moment — not every decision can (or should) be fully collaborative. Sometimes, leadership means making a call while still being open to feedback.
What I've learned in these first weeks is that it's normal for both the team and the leader to go through a period of adaptation. Change isn't always comfortable, but when done thoughtfully, it can strengthen collaboration.
This is part of my "100 Days as Head of Data and Cloud" series. Follow along as I share insights, challenges, and learnings from this new leadership role.
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