Motivating your team in today's economy

One of the hardest parts of executive management is motivating your team. Large or small, teams need to feel good about what they do, good about their work, good about the company they work for and, here's the kicker, they need to feel safe and secure. We were doing okay until that last part.

The world is a different place than it was even a year ago. Few managers can look our employees straight in the eye and say "We're ok. There's nothing to worry about". If you have that luxury, hold on to it as you would a precious stone. The fact is, almost all workers are worried about losing their jobs....even executives! But what tangible actions can you do to maintain a positive atmosphere in the shadows of the present economic situation?

You need to provide your own "stimulus package". So, here are a few of my techniques that won't get the finance department breathing down your neck; Please share with us what you have been doing to keep up morale;

Walk around and Talk .....to everyone
This is no time for Management from the Ivory Tower. Get out on the floor and talk to the people. Is there an employee walking down the hall you don't really know that well? (In some larger companies you may not even know who the employee is!) Our job is to reach out to everyone and connect. Talk about the company, talk about sports, talk about politics. Just get out there and talk. Reaching out to the team is vital. If you are uncomfortable doing this, or don't know how, maybe a re-read of the One Minute Manager is in order.

Get some movie tickets and randomly give them away;
In a budget constrained environment, a few dollars can go a long way in making a difference to your employees. Go online, bulk purchase movie tickets at $7.50 apiece. Keep them in your drawer. Every so often, hand out a pair of tickets to an employee and tell them to take a wife/friend/significant other out on a date. The positive energy you create with such a small gesture can go a long way.

A free day off
Yes, you read it right. I have used this technique for years. At company events (Picnic, Holiday Parties, Department events, etc.) I would raffle off a "Free Vacation Day". This is always a big hit. I would have 10 Certificates printed up. Now, subject to the employees direct supervisor approving the day depending on work schedules, deadlines, etc. this works really well. Yes, I realize in some corporate environments this may be difficult to do. But here's where you can try something new and creative to make a difference to take the edge off.

Communication Updates
If you don't do this already, consider writing a short weekly or bi-weekly update to the group. It can take the shape of an e-mail or even a blog posting. It doesn't have to be much. But let everyone in on what you can without giving up sensitive information. Favorite topics are customer updates (wins and losses), product development milestones, upcoming events, etc. There are many benefits to this - among them you get the employees engaged and motivated on company topics, and you build trust with the team.


These are just a sample of the many variations I have used in some way or another to keep teams motivated. Today more than ever, the need for management connection is greater than ever. You have the power to reduce some of the stress around the office in these uncertain times. Take advantage of that power in a positive way.

\Mike