How to Manage a Small Team You Rarely See | Simon Harniess #podcast

How do you manage a small team when you rarely see them in person? When time is limited and one person’s absence can put a major event at risk, staying connected takes more than checking the task list. Simon Harniess manages a team of two, works part-time, and rarely shares a building with most of his team. In this episode of Bite Size Brilliance: Managing People, he joins Nicola Richardson to discuss the everyday habits that help a small, dispersed team work together under pressure. With over 40 years in social care, Simon has worked as a provider, a commissioner, and now Director of Development at the Essex Care Association. He brings a practical perspective on managing people when resources are tight and relationships matter. 💬 The small things that shape a team Simon shares what he considers the biggest mistake managers make. It’s quiet, builds gradually, and can be easy to miss while you’re busy keeping everything running. He also explains why his Monday morning meeting starts with people rather than tasks, and shares the line he uses when someone in his team is running low. It’s a response that stayed with me long after we recorded. We explore: • How to build regular contact into managing a dispersed team. • What team resilience means when there are only three of you. • How planning ahead makes it easier for someone else to step in. • Why one-to-ones matter and when a reset is needed. • What can get neglected when a new idea takes your attention. • How to respond to overwhelm by returning to what you can control. You’ll also hear what happened when Simon’s team examined a process that took 365 days, alongside his reflections on influencing change, improving processes, and building relationships. If you manage a small team, work part-time, or lead people you don’t often see face to face, this conversation offers plenty to reflect on. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Welcome, and why a team of three makes for a useful conversation 03:00 The brains and the legs, and what a Director of Development really does 05:00 The safeguarding example where influencing actually worked 06:00 Continuous improvement, and the mindset of “it has always been done this way” 09:00 Create a place for the money conversation, then you can have the others 11:00 Commissioning for outcomes when you are paid to count hours 13:00 When you dislike the idea, start with the bit you do like 14:00 Managing a dispersed team, and building in contact points 16:00 Why Monday morning starts with people, not the task list 18:00 What resilience looks like when there are only three of you 20:00 Planning far enough ahead that anyone can step in 23:00 The biggest mistake managers make 25:00 One-to-ones, and resets 29:00 The shiny new thing, and what gets neglected because of it 33:00 Overwhelm, and coming back to what you can actually control 35:00 You do not need a roadmap of every single step 38:00 Advice for a new manager, the plan and the relationships 40:00 The conflict you can find on the ground 41:00 Spotting your peaks and troughs before they hit 42:00 Managing your internal reputation 🔗 Explore the resources Essex Care Association: https://essexcare.org.uk/ New to management or promoted without much preparation? Explore The Manager’s Academy for support with the people side of the job: https://6c35-thepeoplementor.systeme.... More from The People Mentor: https://thepeoplementor.co.uk 🎧 Keep listening Find Bite Size Brilliance: Managing People wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe to The People Mentor for more practical management conversations. What helps you stay connected with a team you rarely see? Share your experience in the comments. #SmallTeamManagement #PeopleManagement #RemoteTeamManagement #Leadership #TeamResilience #ManagementTips #SocialCare