Coach explains a mistake managers make when ‘catching up’ with workers

It’s the notification we all fear; a calendar invitation for a meeting titled “catch up.” What could it mean? Is it bad? The questions are endless until the meeting finally begins.

Most people have experienced this anxiety at some point, but leadership coach and coach Jacqui Jagger said news week that this is not the way managers schedule meetings. As co-founder of Catalyst Careers, Jagger said leaders need to stop calling meetings “catch-ups” because that leaves employees nervous and feeling afraid.

The 47-year-old from Coventry, UK, added that the lack of context leaves everything up to interpretation, meaning employees often think there is bad news on the horizon. Whether it’s days or hours before the meeting takes place, the person is wracked with nerves that it could be a layoff.

Jagger said: “Without context, employees can often interpret this as a bad thing, so they spend the time between receiving the invitation and attending the meeting worrying. This is even more likely if someone is working with a new boss, if they feel unsure of how they are perceived at work, or if they have anxiety or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

“Too many people have received an invitation to catch up, only to find themselves receiving negative feedback, being subjected to a performance management process, or even being fired,” Jagger added.

While a moderate amount of job stress may be normal in most jobs, a survey from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) found that 56 percent of employees say stress affects their performance on the job. job and 51 percent said it affects their relationships with their coworkers.

As for the main causes of their daily stress, the results showed that deadlines are the most common culprit at 55 percent, followed by interpersonal relationships at 53 percent and personnel management at 50 percent.

Although the ADAA revealed that 72 percent of people have daily stress that interferes with their lives, only 40 percent of people have talked to management about it. Most fear it will be interpreted as an unwillingness to do the job; others are afraid of being called weak; and many do not want it to affect promotion opportunities.

The importance of giving context

Ultimately, meetings won’t always be negative or drastic, but Jagger said managers should make that clear to workers and be specific about what the meeting will entail.

Their advice is to add a topic or include key points in the meeting title, so people know exactly what will be discussed.

Jagger said: “For example, ‘catch up on project finances’, with a note saying you are looking to discuss budgets, meaning the employee can come prepared with ideas and data.

“Investing in training and support for managers and leaders can have a huge impact on wellbeing by reducing the stress of working for bad bosses,” Jagger added.

Rhiannon Batchelder, professional burnout coach and corporate culture consultant, echoed this premise. She said news week Many millennials and Gen Zers feel a lack of job security and loyalty, so a scheduled meeting without context can lead people to think about worst-case scenarios.

Batchelder continued: “Providing context from the beginning is a simple way for managers to reduce the stress their employees feel. It stops the racing thoughts that arise when we try to fill in the blanks.

“These small efforts that managers can make to decrease anxiety in the workplace will ultimately help their teams feel less exhausted, more confident, and therefore more productive. It’s a win-win,” she said.

The reaction of social networks

As a leadership coach, Jagger often shares his tips and advice on social media (@practicalleadershipcoach on TikTok). When she posted the video about why managers should “stop making random catch-up requests,” she was blown away by the response.

The March clip went viral online, with more than 117,000 views and more than 1,700 likes on TikTok so far.

Speaking of the reaction, Jagger said Week of news: “It clearly struck a chord. It’s been by far my most popular video, with a lot of people saying that’s exactly how they feel. It’s also been nice to see bosses asking for advice on how to do things right.

“If your boss does this, ask him or her to include a topic so you can better prepare for catching up,” he added.

Jagger’s video certainly generated a lot of attention online, leading many people to share their personal experiences of the dreaded catch-up meetings. Among the 165 comments on TikTok, one person responded: “I’m autistic, so when I see myself catching up, I think I’m getting fired. No matter what’s going on, my brain thinks the worst every time.”

Another person wrote: “Totally agree. I’ll discuss it beforehand or send a message immediately after sending the email.”

Another comment says: “I disagree. If you are a good leader and communicate well, your team shouldn’t panic.”

Have you had any work dilemmas? Let us know at [email protected]. We can ask experts for advice and your story could appear in news week.