Another lockdown - How to reinvigorate your teams
The latest lockdown in the Australian state of Victoria could affect a team's morale, but it can also be a great opportunity to reinvigorate them.
We are very conditioned to thinking things will improve - most of the time they do. However, it's also true that things get worse before they get better. Whilst we all know this, it can be hard for many people to deal with.
Your teams will be feeling this. A sense of going backwards is bound to have an effect on internal energy, optimism and morale. As leaders, we have to remember that our teams are the priority, without them we don't have a business. We need to do more than simply engage, or create energy through doing 'fun' things. This won't cut it - leaders need to lift confidence, build resilience and help teams feel more in control individually and as a group - i.e. change the trajectory.
There are two specific things leaders can do to change this trajectory:
- Share and review your business values and business purpose
- Create structured conversations around customer
Share and review your business values and business purpose
Too often the values and if it exists, the purpose of the business are too easily forgotten. Right now is why we need meaningful values (those values that guide the way we want do things) and a sense of real purpose for the business. Purpose is about doing something for the good of others - i.e. why should anybody outside of your business care what you do? Both values and purpose need to be re-shared with teams and those teams encouraged to discuss, share stories and give honest feedback. This in turn will force attention on your strategy and vision. Your teams will relish the opportunity to reflect and discuss matters that are meaningful to them and you'll have great insight with which to refine strategy and direction.
Create structured conversations around customer
Customer care can create a strong unifying focus for an organisation - no matter if they are front line staff or deep into the value chain. Having structured team conversations around customer is not only relevant but helps create a collective focus away from an internal feeling of low morale. Generate a series of conversations and tasks around 'How can we leverage our sustainable competitive advantage to create even greater value for customers?' Begin with pen portraits, translate customer understanding into human terms and create plans to better serve - across the business.
By engaging teams in a deliberate, manageable and systematic way around business values, purpose and customer, you may well be surprised at what people reveal and what improvements come back. Make sure you participate fully in this by being transparent, authentic, asking great questions and listening hard.
Do contact me to chat these areas through. There are a range of highly effective tools and processes to support these initiatives.
I'm very happy to help. If I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at Mobile: +61 434 607 76 or email me at [email protected].
Jim