Structure
- Provide clear direction. This means going beyond the communicated vision to provide a detailed road map. Even independent, autonomous employees want to know what you expect from them and how you want them to proceed, day to day.
- Create "winter rules." In golf, when conditions are not normal, people play by winter rules. They get to tee up the ball in a new place or toss it out of a puddle and into the fairway, all to gain advantage and improve results. Do the same with your team, creating temporary policies, procedures or reporting relationships to get you through uncertain or tough times.
- Model new behaviors. If you want an upbeat, focused, positive team, you'll need to act upbeat, focused, and positive. They watch you. They listen to you. When you radiate doom and gloom, they're affected. And when you're excited or optimistic about the team, the organization or the future, they catch that optimism. Tell them what you know about the future and be honest about what you don't.
Research shows that engaged employees are more likely to stay with you, produce more and increase your customers' satisfaction. All of that makes your job easier and improves the bottom line. Offer up an additional dose of support, communication and structure. You can light the fire again.
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