How do you prefer to stay connected with your direct reports? Do you have specific methods for checking in with your IT staff and gauging morale?

We are remote first so scheduled interactions are essential. I have weekly 1 on 1 meetings with my direct reports for 30 minutes. We always talk about the morale of their teams in the conversation and I do random 15 minute check in meetings with staff throughout IT to take my own pulse. We have bi-weekly team meetings of Directors and up which consists of my 6 direct reports and some of their direct reports who are at Director level. I have another bi-weekly meeting with just my directs. On a yearly basis HR conducts the "Great Place to Work" survey which provides another set of data points on team morale. And we bring the whole IT team into the office quarterly where we have an all hands meeting with lunch. I always take this opportunity to talk with as many staff as possible to take another pulse. Bottom line, you need to be intentional and pay attention!

(1) Weekly or bi-weekly 1:1 meetings with each direct report. (2) Bi-weekly meetings with the full leadership team. (3) Informal bi-weekly optional "Coffee Connect" 30-minute meetings with all team members (direct and indirect reports) where we typically chat about non-work related items. (4) Ad-hoc coffee-chat meetings (approximately quarterly) with indirect reports. We work primarily remotely so these virtual meetings are critical to staying connected with one another.