Events like COVID-19 force change upon us, whether or not we want it or not. All types of change bring with it advantages and disadvantages. Forced working from home may bring more focused time but at the cost of increased loneliness. We can use this situation to understand how to navigate a world of constant change, particularly change you cannot control.

Team members may find it healthy to complain about change. Complaining often feels cathartic as people feel listened to. After some time though, complaining about pain endlessly results in a demotivating downward spiral. As a leader, first acknowledge the change, recognise its impact (both positive and negative) but then focus on the opportunities. Help your team reconnect with improvements or benefits they may not see, or they may need help taking advantage of.

One advantage I have personally experienced in these COVID-19 times is engaging more regularly with remote communities. Although I had a handful of opportunities prior to COVID-19, with almost all communities around the world meeting online, the location of a guest matters less. The last few weeks I’ve connected with people in SE Asia, in particular Singapore. You can find me speaking with Henry Suryawirawan (@henry_ken) based in Singapore on the Tech Lead Journal podcast. Another recent event was hosted by Agile Singapore where I shared another version of “The Evolution of Engineering Excellence.” Thanks to Stanly Lau (@stanlylau) for organising this.

I hope you enjoy this week’s content. If you find it useful, please forward to someone else and send me feedback. Stay safe and healthy 🙏

Book now for the Nov 18 cohort of “Shortcut to Tech Leadership”, a remote 3-hour course on technical leadership, the last course in 2020 🎉!