...when the Law of High Morale is working at its best, the leader boosts the morale of the team, and the team boosts the morale of the leader. That's the way it should be. When you're winning, nothing hurts. from
The
17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork |
M is for Morale
As leaders, we all-too-often take the morale of our team for granted. Morale is important both in concept and in practice.
Yes, we can practice morale. People don't feel good by accident, nor do they lack drive or commitment or energy by accident. As leaders, we have a great deal of influence on the morale of the members of our team. Little things - a kind word of recognition or acknowlegement, for instance - go a long way.
You'll hear me say, over and over (and over and...), put yourself in the other person's shoes. Ask yourself some simple questions when you think something is going bad or good in your team's morale:
-
What makes them feel good?
- What don't they know that they think they should know or would like to know?
- What do you know that they might like to know, but don't know that they want to know?
- What might have happened to discourage or upset them?
- When is the last time you just chatted with them?
- Do you know enough about your teammates to make reasonable guesses at the answers?
Of course, even if you can answer these questions, you're left with the big one: what can you do about it?
It's all based on knowledge - knowledge of each teammate, knowledge of what encourages and discourages them, and knowledge of yourself.
And this doesn't apply just to the team's leader - whether appointed or evolved - it applies to everyone on the team. Think about it - if it's all left up to the leader, then the rest of the team has given up all of their sense of responsibility. What happens when the leader is having difficulty? The team is what happens!
If you're an executive leading a corporate workforce, you must always keep the personal interests of your employees in mind. Remember, people do things for their own reasons—not for yours or mine. from
How
to Be a Great Communicator |
Leadership Tips for Managers
There are different managers in the world. Some of them seem to get a lot done, but their teams are never really happy or motivated. And then there are those who seem to be able to not only get things done, but generate intense loyalty and commitment.
Have you wondered at the difference? I have. We'll keep talking about it. Here's one tip for successfully being a leader manager, instead of just a manager - talk to your people.
Simple? Yes. Obvious? Yes. But you might be surprised how often I've found managers who think of themselves as being very effective who never take the time to talk to each person on their team one-on-one.
Make the time on a regular basis. Set aside a slot of time every week or every other week for each member of your team. Make sure that they know that's their time. If there are things that you want to cover in these meetings, that's fine. But make sure that some, if not most, of the time is left for unstructured or unplanned conversation. Get to know each team member as the fully grown human being that they are, and let them get to know you along the way.
If winning organizations are distinguished from losers by their ability to produce leaders at all levels, winning leaders are distinguised from wannabes—from bureaucrats, dictators and managers—by their extraordinary success at teaching others to be leaders as well. from
The
Leadership Engine |
Management Tips for Leaders
You're the one with the vision. You can see and share the future of your organization. It's glorious and grand.
Sharing your vision may not be enough. Explaining that there's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow doesn't get anyone onto the rainbow, much less to the pot of gold. Consider the how along with the what.
Wishing you health, wealth, and happiness,
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Steven works with entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals who want to clarify their communications and concepts so that they can dramatically increase their business profitability.
Steven
List is the co-founder of BackOfTheRoom.com, an online bookstore specializing in self-published and small press products.
Steven has delivered speeches to international, national and local
audiences in industries including technology, healthcare, law, education,
financial services, employment, and arts/entertainment. He has authored
numerous articles and columns in leading publications.
Steven has benefited from a heart attack, business failure, and job layoffs, leading to his owning and running a successful business, leading numerous teams in business and volunteer work, and to being married for over 25 years and having four children. His philosophy, “The Money is in Your Blind Spot!™” addresses finding value in the skills, knowledge, expertise, experience, and people we take for granted. Steven mixes wit, enthusiasm and humor with motivational stories to deliver hard-hitting messages that compel attendees to achieve astounding results in their life, work and relationships. Known for his passion and sincerity, Steven is an accomplished and exciting speaker who speaks from real life experiences – not textbook theory. People who hear Steven speak learn real lessons that they can use tomorrow.
Steven is available for keynotes, breakout sessions, custom seminars and workshops, weekend retreats, and as Master of Ceremonies / Grand Mixer
For more information, please visit StevenList.com or contact Steven or call 512-246-3533.
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