As a manager, you’re keeping tabs on a lot of things: project scopes, timelines, staffing, progress, blockers, etc…
But how often are you tracking (or even consciously thinking about) your team members’ moods?
The answer for most of you is probably “not enough”. Some of you may even be thinking “Why does that matter? Their work speaks for itself.”
Let’s break it down.
Sometimes how your team is feeling is more important than what they’re accomplishing or saying. Someone’s mood can be a leading indicator of a brewing or undiscussed issue. If someone is worried or annoyed, it could be a signal to you and the rest of the team that a problem is about to rear its head. Chances are they’re struggling with something.
On the flip side, if a team member is excited or celebratory, there could be some exciting news that you should ask them about.
That’s why we’re excited to announce that Status Hero now has mood tracking. In addition to your existing questions, we’ll ask your team how they’re feeling with each check-in. Team members can pick from a set of emoji that represent different moods.
With a simple question each day, you can get a sense for how your team is feeling. Their mood is shared with their check-in, so everyone on your team can see how each other is feeling that day. Understanding and responding to each other’s moods will help initiate conversations and build empathy and within your team, leading to better communication and increased psychological safety.
The question is optional and you can choose to disable it completely if you aren’t interested in how your team is feeling (but we recommend keeping it on).
As a manager, you can use your team members’ moods to help prepare for 1:1s. Has someone been “meh” all week? Maybe they’re burning out or needing a new challenge. Being aware of their moods will help identify those problems early and spark important conversations.
Taking the time to think about how you’re feeling can also be useful. Being mindful of your emotions and sharing them will allow you to reflect on what’s contributing to and triggering those feelings. That self-reflection can lead to better self-awareness and EQ, which are critical for long-term success as a manager.
So give mood tracking a shot and see how empathy, understanding, and communication increase within your team!
To enable mood tracking for your team, go to Team Setings and check “Enable mood tracking” in the “Reporting” section.
