I came across a headline, Woman Working from Home Sparks Debate by Using a ‘Mouse Jiggler’ and had to read the story. 

You probably have the same question I did – what the heck is a mouse jiggler?

It’s a device that simulates moving your mouse while away from your computer.

This woman was being micromanaged by her boss, who noticed when her Microsoft Teams status showed her as away from her computer. So, she “fixed” the problem by ensuring her status stayed active all day.

What’s wrong with this picture?

If this manager-employee relationship had been built on trust, the two of them could have had a conversation to address each other’s concerns and work towards a solution. 

Perhaps the manager was legitimately concerned about the employee’s quantity and quality of work. 

Perhaps the employee was applying her best efforts to produce the desired results. 

However, lack of trust led the employee to find a creative way of deceiving her manager rather than applying that creativity to her work.

Effective leaders establish, sustain, and grow trust among their teams. 

Why is trust important within teams?

It increases

• individual and team efficiency,
• willingness to take calculated risks, and
• team morale

This leads to stronger engagement, increased retention, and greater levels of discretionary effort.

Do the leaders at your organization need help to create a culture of trust for their teams? 

If you answered, “YES,” then ask me about my Trusted Leader training program.

Wishing you the best!

Contact me with your questions about individual coaching, group coaching, talent development, and speaking engagements.