Secrets of a Great Nanny Team
Communication
It is not really a secret—but communication is key to having a healthy team. This is true when talking about parents, nannies, or any combination of caregivers/tutors/staff/family members. I’m a firm believer that communication is best if it is frequent and face-to-face, but I realize it isn’t always possible to meet in-person regularly. Since every family and team is different—you must discern what will work best for you.
Consider a nightly group email using bullet points to highlight the most important things from the day.
Maybe a shared physical journal or notebook to share stories and observations works best for your team.
Set up a weekly check-in on Zoom.
Try to sit together face-to-face at least monthly.
You know what is possible for your parenting and nanny team. The most important thing is figuring out what level and type of communication works best for your team and sticking to it! Building regular rhythms of communication will help you grow in trust and strengthen your ability to work as a group.
Questions to consider:
How does your parenting/nanny team communicate daily and weekly information?
When do you sit together to celebrate the what is going well and anticipate upcoming challenges and needs?
Clearly defined roles and responsibilities
Sometimes when nannies work different days, you can get into a groove and forget what your teammates are doing to help keep the family moving forward. If you are on a nanny team and don’t have defined roles and responsibilities, take time to write out your responsibilities and and share with your teammates. Include all the things you take care of, even the little tasks. Are you the one who detangles the teenager’s jewelry every week? Do you take care of updating the chore chart? Do you make sure allowance is taken care of? Are you the scheduling lead? List it all!
Questions to consider:
Who is the lead for packing? Who makes sure the swim goggles are packed and the ski jacket still fits?
Who handles researching extracurricular activities and camps?
Who makes sure the special blanket or lovey is washed regularly?
Who anticipates upcoming holidays and helps with making/purchasing cards and gifts?
Give each other the benefit of the doubt
Remember that we are all doing the best with what we’ve got. Every person brings their own skills, talents, and background to their role. Working with others isn’t easy! There will be folks who feel strongly something should be approached one way when you feel the opposite. To work well as a team, you’ll need to practice giving each other the benefit of the doubt. Try to always believe the best of the people on your team. This isn’t an excuse to let someone be a bully—and it is not a reason to shrink back or make yourself small. It is simply an invitation to remember the humanity of each person you work with. I invite you to approach challenging interactions from a place of believing the best of each other. It will go a long way.
Prioritize self care — as individuals and as a team
Caring for kids is exhausting. For parents and nannies alike. Remember to take care of your own needs so you can care for the needs of others. Prioritizing your needs enables you to be a great team player for the long haul.
Do the basics! Get the sleep you need. Drink water. Eat food that makes you happy. Make time to move your body.
Take time for hobbies that inspire you.
Consider finding a therapist and make sure to schedule that weekly coffee with a trusted friend.
Also, don’t forget that teams need time to connect and care for one another outside of their typical workday. Ask your employer to provide support for professional development focused on team building. This might mean your team goes out to brunch once a quarter with specific questions to guide your time together. Or even better, set aside a couple days a year for a team retreat—where you reflect on the past year and plan for the future. Whatever you choose, make sure to build in some time for laughing, celebrating, and hopefully enjoying a beautiful view or delicious food together. I believe you will feel the difference in your team.
Reach out if you would like to talk about creating more room for building trust and communication within your team or to work together to design a customized professional retreat for your nanny team.
