Hi Erika,
Very good question requesting views and tips on maintaining/ boosting momentum in the group.
Our other learned friends have already given their valued opinion and I wish to add mine here.
One thing is certain that mature business can certainly boost growth. One can adopt an entrepreneurial mindset that capitalizes on new growth opportunities. Following key points are noteworthy.
Leader Morale: Keep in mind that, if you're a leader, your team’s morale starts with you. It's up to you to be a good role model for your team. If your own morale is suffering, then it's vital that you work on rebuilding your own outlook and attitude first. Start by identifying why your own morale is low, and then come up with ways to adjust your mental attitude.
Often, this starts with action. For instance, perhaps your morale is down because of some sad incident in the family, or your income level has gone down for any reason. You can make yourself feel more positive and in control of the situation by getting organized, and by achieving measurable goals that will put you at ease. Work on rebuilding your self-confidence.
Remember, your team is always watching you: if you're feeling positive and confident, they will too. Some eager zebra game wins or auctions will also help build confidence – for you, and also your team with your beaming confidence.
Team Morale: If your team's morale needs rebuilding, there are several strategies that you can use. However, just as you did with your own morale, you need to start by understanding the problem. This helps you choose strategies that best fit your situation, which may include:
1. Reconnecting With Your Team:
Morale is higher in situations where team members feel close to their leaders.
You can create this type of environment by developing good relationships with your team, and by reconnecting whenever possible. With regular contact and communication, you can re-establish trust and rapport with your team. It also helps to develop your emotional intelligence: the better you can sense the emotions and needs of those around you, the better you will be as a leader.
Keep in mind that lack of appreciation is often cited as one of the root causes of low morale. So, do whatever you can to show your people that you appreciate them. Reward by saying "thank you" for a job well done, or by offering benefits such as extra days off, or flexible scheduling when key goals are met.
You'll also want to give everyone regular feedback on their work.
2. Developing Your Team:
Another way of improving morale is by helping people develop their skills. So make sure that you're offering your people opportunities for learning and development, as a way of helping them feel more secure and committed to the organization.
You can do this by understanding their developmental needs, and by using Training to make sure that everyone is properly trained. Cross-Training is another great way of building morale, and improving productivity, just as long as you explain why you're doing it.
3. Improving Communication:
Poor communication can be another common root cause of low morale.
Identify ways that you can keep your team in the loop. Always send a weekly email with important updates, or devote a few minutes in your regular meetings to keeping people up to speed with what's going on. Communicate fully with your team, and explain how any changes or decisions will affect them. Remember, the flow of information should go both ways. Encourage your team to come to you any time they have questions or concerns. Listen actively to what they have to say, and respond in a timely manner to problems or suggestions.
4. Setting Measurable Goals:
Morale can fall when your people are unclear about what they should be doing, or what your expectations are. This lack of direction is disheartening, and disorienting. Understanding these gives members of your team a clear and (hopefully) inspiring view of what you expect.
5. Keeping People Motivated:
Once you've rebuilt morale, it's important to keep people motivated so that the team can reach its objectives. Regularly look for signs of low-morale, and revisit the strategies above when necessary. Team morale can suffer for many reasons, poor leadership, poor communication, or not-so-serious workers. If you suspect that your team's morale is not what it should be, there are several strategies that you can use to rebuild it. First, focus on your own morale. Then identify why team morale is low, and choose appropriate strategies for rebuilding it.
This can include:
1. Reconnecting with your team.
2. Developing your team.
3. Improving communication.
4. Setting measurable goals
5. Rebuilding confidence.
6. Focusing on talent management.
7. Motivating your people effectively.
Hope the above helps in maintaining momentum in the group.
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