Hello Waggle Community!

As we enter Q2, we're sharing insights on measuring engagement in team meetings beyond attendance, continuing our series for new managers with week two priorities, and highlighting a helpful HR tech guide for 2025 that features Waggle AI. We hope these resources support your leadership journey this spring!

Spotlight a Standout Leader

Great leaders aren’t born- they grow through experience, challenges, and impact.

Know someone with an inspiring leadership journey (or is that you)?

We’d love to feature them in our “Grown Not Born” series! Hit reply with your nomination, and we’ll take it from there.

HR/ AI Tech Options for 2025

Looking for HR technology solutions this year?

https://stakkd.tech/ is a great place to start. It features 327 companies across 30 categories including leadership, talent management, compensation, people analytics, and payroll.
If you're specifically interested in leadership tools, you'll notice Waggle AI is listed alongside four other solutions.

What should a new manager do in their second week?  

Last month, we kicked off our series for new managers by focusing on learning in week one- understanding your role, expectations and introducing yourself to your team. Now it’s time to take action.

Step 1- Setting Team Priorities

• Gather input from your team members on their top priorities and blockers.

• Align team insights with company goals.

• Develop an initial action plan with clear responsibilities and deadlines.

  Stay flexible - your priorities may shift as you gain more insight.

Step 2- Connecting with Your Peers

• Schedule time with fellow managers to build relationships

• Understand how they operate and learn from their experiences

• Gain insights into the company’s management culture.

• Identify collaboration opportunities.

Step 3- Identifying Skill Gaps & Shifting Your Mindset

• Assess your current strengths and areas for improvement.

• Ask for feedback from your manager, peers, and team.

• Focus on key skills like delegation, conflict resolution, and active listening.

• Recognize when you're defaulting to an IC mindset and shift towards empowering your team instead.

Step 4- Planning Your Growth as a Manager

• Set specific learning goals based on the skills you need to develop.

• Seek out educational resources such as books, courses, or coaching.

• Find a mentor or trusted peer for guidance.

• Use Waggle to gain insights into your management skill development.

• Regularly check in with yourself and your team to measure progress.

Step 3 and 4 are ongoing processes and are part of your long-term growth as a leader.  

Want to keep learning beyond your second week?

What is new on the Waggle AI app

Skills Gap Analysis Dashboard

Our Skills Gap Analysis feature aggregates anonymized data from all meeting assessments across your organization to pinpoint key development areas.

This provides:

• Comprehensive skills scoring across critical leadership competencies

• Clear percentage indicators of current performance

• Actionable feedback on improvement areas

• Recognition of strengths and what's working well.

Track metrics like Emotional Intelligence, Results Orientation, People Development, while celebrating strengths in areas like Team Leadership and Strategic Thinking.

This company-level view helps leadership teams focus on the right skills to drive success.

Is Your Team Mentally Checking Out During Meetings? 

The difference between a productive meeting and a time-waster isn't attendance-it's engagement. When team members are truly present, ideas flow, and decisions stick.

Here are three key signs your team is tuned in (or zoning out):

1. Beyond Attendance: Are people contributing thoughtfully, asking questions, and building on ideas?

2. Non-Verbal Cues: Eye contact, active posture, and responsiveness signal focus.

3. Measuring What Matters: Quick post-meeting surveys, engagement analytics, or structured observations can uncover hidden patterns.

Read our guide to explore this further.

Warm regards,

Sarah Touzani

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