It is not a system. It is not a program. It is not a methodology with a name.
It is a question.
'What do you need from me right now?'
Why that question is uncommon
Most managers know what they expect from their employees. Fewer ask what their employees expect from them.
That is not because they do not care. It is because it requires a different mindset — moving from being the one who directs to being the one who enables.
And it requires being prepared to hear answers you might not like.
What happens when you ask it
Different things happen depending on culture and relationship.
In a team with low trust: silence, uncertainty, a cautious 'everything is fine'. That is information. It tells you there is space to build something.
In a team with high trust: honest answers. Sometimes things you can resolve immediately. Sometimes insights about what is missing in your organization. Sometimes simply a confirmation that you are doing the right things.
In both cases, the question is worth asking.
Why every week — not every quarter
The need changes. What an employee needs in January is not the same as what they need in March.
The project has changed. The team dynamics have changed. Their personal situation may have changed.
A question asked once a year during a performance review is not being heard. It is a protocol.
A question asked every week in a short conversation is an attitude.
How to start
You do not need a system. You do not need a template.
You need five minutes once a week with each employee — or, if you have a large team, those who currently have the most need.
Ask the question. Listen to the answer. And act on what you can.
That is all. And it changes more than most people expect.
If you have thoughts, questions, or simply want to talk something through — feel free to get in touch. I am happy to have an initial conversation with no agenda.
Magdalena Hagström Ståhl
By M Consulting AB
Right person. Right place. Everything changes.