leading in tough times? look after morale

Here are 5 practical things that you can do to make a difference:

 

1. Make personal contact with 3 of your people each day – especially the invisible ones. The people who tend to just get on and do a good job without saying a word.

2. Make a point of thanking people more than usual – CREDIBILITY WARNING – you must be specific and genuine in your thanks: “John, thanks for attending that meeting for me yesterday, it meant I could finish the xyz report which is was a b****y relief! Thanks.”

3. To find out what the troops think and where you need to put the effort in. Consider allocating a notice board in a slightly out of the way place where people can post inconspicuously. Head it: What’s on your mind?

4. Provide paper and pens nearby. Check the board each day and post replies to the concerns, observations and ideas. Award a prize each week for the most insightful post (or the most honest!). You may of course need to leave the prize by the board for the winner to pick up anonymously.

5. Regular updates on the state of the business – nothing heavy and corporatized. Simple language, straight talk.

6. Ideas sessions – whether business is good or bad for your organisation, involving people at al levels in high-level ideas generation can really stoke up interest in making a difference. Don’t wait for volunteers – invite people personally. And don’t just invite the obvious people for Sales and Marketing, Product Development etc. Get people in from Finance, facilities, HR, and different parts of the business. Make the sessions 30 minutes or less, provide lots of buns and treats and call them something informative – in fact anything other than ‘ideas meeting’!

 

By Dr Paul Furey © PEC 2009