Every team sometimes experiences problems. Managers should count on it and understand that their responsibility is not only the success of their projects, but also of the health and morale of their team. But how can they keep positive energy in the team when things are not going as they want? Worst, when it even seems that they are approaching an inevitable failure?
You need to know your team well and predict how individual members will respond to problems. Only then you can communicate properly about good as well as bad news or deal with such matters as personal mistakes and team failures. Success depends primarily on your communication skills.
Take precautionary measures
According to the PM Hut website, you should observe and be aware of your team morale every day. The following are some ways you can strengthen it preventively, before a major problem or failure occurs. Start by simply saying thank you for a good job done. Go to lunch together or have some fun occasionally. Recognition is a very powerful motivator. Make a habit of providing feedback regularly, continuously and informally. Do not wait for the annual performance evaluation.
Celebrate achievements
If you successfully complete something, do not take it for granted. Celebrate even partial objectives together with the entire team. Celebrate successful proposals your people come up with. Thinking that you do not have time for it is a big mistake. Nobody should feel that you do not respect and appreciate his or her work.
Set an example
If something really goes wrong, keep in mind that your people are watching your response. If they see that you are depressed or giving up further efforts, they will behave in the same way. There is no need to pretend that a failure did not happen and paste on a fake smile. Your task is to assess the situation together and learn from it next time. Then you should not look back but focus on your future success.
What proven recipe do you have for raising morale in your team?
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