Posted on April 26th, 2010
Today, I read an article from the Ken Blanchard Companies about how it’s important that leaders don’t take their employees for granted. In the article, Blanchard points out that the recent downturn in the economy and challenges in the workplace may have lead to a bit of apathy in leadership. He says: “I think that there have been some organizations who felt that the recent lack of options for employees let them get away with less than great practices with their people. And so I think that people are at a pretty low level of trust and excitement with many of the organizations they are working for.”
This perspective got me thinking . . . is there ever a “best” or “better” time to build spirit and motivation among your team? Well, I think Ken Blanchard makes a great point. And, I also think anytime is a good time to cultivate trust, build excitement around organizational goals, and ignite employee passions. At Madd-Steiny Productions, we work with companies during both times of abundance and times of challenge. Regardless of the circumstances, we encourage leaders to focus on making sure employees are engaged and have the tools they need to succeed, no matter what the job is or what the times are like.
So, whether there are rough waters ahead, or smooth sailing . . . what are you going to do today to ignite the passions of your employees? Here are some ideas:
- Walk around today and look for people “doing something right” and thank them for it on the spot.
- Meet with everyone on your team and ask if the job allows them to exercise their strengths regularly. If not, try to add a project or shift some responsibilities to allow them more time doing what makes them feel strong. (This will pay dividends in spades!
- Get the team together for an informal celebration. At the end of the day sometime soon, invite everyone to an impromptu meeting in the conference room. When they arrive, have some nibbles and sodas for them. Let them know the occasion is just to say thanks for their hard work.
- Re-calibrate goals and objectives. Is everyone still focused on what matters most? If not, get everyone moving in the direction the organization needs and where they can bring their best to the job.
- Ask your team for ideas on what you can do to communicate more clearly, reinforce priorities, and clear the way for them to do their job. They’ll appreciate you for it.
With passion,
Lynae
