Movember Isn’t JUST About Moustaches - It’s About Managers Who Listen
Each November, we see the moustaches, the fundraisers, and the campaigns for men’s mental health. But in tech teams, the most powerful action a manager can take isn’t growing facial hair - it’s creating space to listen.
Why Movember Starts in Your 1-2-1s
When team members feel like their 1-2-1s are about tasks, not them, it sends a message: Your output matters more than your wellbeing. Yet most people don’t need a grand wellbeing initiative - they need consistent, calm check-ins where they can show up as humans.
Try this simple structure next week:
- Start with presence: “How are you arriving today?” Help them pause. It’s a cue for reflection, not performance.
- Name the pressure: What’s weighing on them - deadlines, context-switching, or life outside of work? This validates their reality and builds trust.
- Act on one lever: You don’t have to fix everything. Focus on one thing within your control - reduce WIP, protect focus, or clear a blocker.
- Close the loop: Revisit it next week. Show consistency. That’s where safety grows.
Care → conditions → performance.
Listening Isn’t Therapy - It’s Leadership
Managers sometimes fear opening the door to “feelings.” But supporting mental health doesn’t mean becoming a counsellor - it means designing conditions where people can breathe, think, and perform sustainably.
A good 1-2-1 is leadership in action:
- You create psychological safety through attention.
- You build trust through follow-up.
- You model empathy without losing clarity.
From Awareness to Action
Movember is about raising awareness. But awareness without action doesn’t change teams.
So this month, commit to one small act of leadership:
Turn your 1-2-1s into safe spaces, not status updates.
You’ll be surprised how quickly performance follows when people feel heard.
Free Tool: Upgrade Your 1-2-1s
If you want a practical template to help structure your conversations, download my 👉 Free 1-2-1 Meeting Template. It’s built to help tech managers create meaningful, repeatable conversations that strengthen connection and clarity.
YouTube Video
If you want to review the video version of this, you can do here
Ready to Lead Better?
If you’re a tech manager looking to build confidence, reduce firefighting, and lead with more calm - let’s talk. Book a free 15-minute chat and explore how coaching could support you or your team.
#Movember #Leadership #PsychologicalSafety #Tech #ManagersWhoListen