I think that's been another downside of being just on calls for the last 18 months is that you cannot as easily break through some of these barriers and emotions. In hindsight, none. It would have actually been great. And I think that is partly, it's partly that work has become a little bit more robotic in some ways. But to then recall or just remember that this is your team. This is people that you work with and to really bring out that human side, not just like get through the next thing and get through thenext thing. Right.
If you’ve invested in someone you manage, it’s natural to feel hurt when that person tells you they’re leaving. Yet the classic management advice is: Don’t take it personally. Be professional. Acknowledging your feelings and working through them — for yourself and with your team — is actually part of being an emotionally intelligent, compassionate leader.
Five managers, including Amy B, share their experiences of losing team members and how they’ve learned to cope with the shock, sadness, and stress.
Guests:
Nicole Smith is HBR’s editorial audience director.
Maureen Hoch is the editor of HBR.org and the supervising editor of Women at Work.
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