Are your managers crushing your team’s spirit?

We all know how crucial effective systems and a motivated team are for success, right? But, what if I told you that even the most finely-tuned systems can fail if your managers aren't training your team effectively or motivating them to succeed?

Let’s face it we’ve probably all had a manager who unintentionally put a damper on our spirits. They didn’t mean to do it, but their actions and behaviours really took the wind out of our sails and made coming in to work hard.

That de-motivation can really affect a team member’s performance, and productivity will suffer as a result. Worse still, it’s catching. One fed-up person affects another, and another until pretty soon the whole team is infected with the ‘grumpy and unproductive’ virus.

So here are a few things to look out for (or recognise in yourself if you’re the only manager in your business!) that could be having a negative impact on your team:

Forgetting to Say ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’: one of the most common motivation killers is the feeling of being unappreciated. If your managers hardly ever say ‘thanks’ and never give your team a pat on the back for their hard work, it can leave them feeling undervalued.
Too Much Hovering: Constantly breathing down employees’ necks, scrutinising every task, and not giving them any autonomy can make your team members feel like they’re not trusted to do their jobs. It’s demoralising and it stifles creativity.
Poor or no Communication: Effective communication is the glue that holds teams together. When your managers don’t share their expectations, don’t give feedback, and don’t communicate how the team and the business are doing – then your team will disengage and do the bare minimum to get by.
Ignoring Growth Opportunities: It’s so important to invest in every team member’s growth and development, both as an employee and a person. So look for signs that your managers aren’t spotting potential in your team, and investing their time in making the most of it. When team members don’t feel that their skills are valued it leads to stagnation and a lack of motivation to excel.
Not-So-Fair Treatment: Favouritism or inconsistent treatment of your team members breeds resentment and kills motivation. When team members feel like they’re not being treated fairly, they’ll switch off, and may even sabotage your operation.

OK, so that’s what to look out for, now here are five things to get your managers to do to turn things around:

Acknowledge and Reward Efforts: Encourage your managers to recognise and reward the hard work and achievements of their team members regularly. A simple ‘thank you’ or a shout-out in a team meeting can go a long way in boosting morale.
Build a culture of ownership: Teach your managers to train their team, and then trust them to take ownership for their responsibilities. Giving people room to make decisions and be creative will build their motivation and engagement.
Improve Communication: Effective communication is key. Managers need to communicate openly, honestly, and regularly with the team.
Invest in Training and Development: Teach your managers to invest in their team’s growth – through training, delegation, additional responsibilities, maybe even through mentoring. It’s the responsibility of every manager to help their team members fulfil their potential!
Promote Fairness: Make fairness one of your core values and help your managers to see how being firm, fair and friendly with the team will build their trust and respect for them as their leader. Consistency is key here. Treat everyone as you would want to be treated yourself, and you won’t go far wrong!

Business is a team sport, and none of us can truly be successful without the support and hard work of the team around us. We all want to work in a happy, positive, hopefully fun environment, and your managers play a pivotal role in creating that environment and building a positive and productive team.

By recognising the signs of demotivation and taking action to reverse it, you can transform your managers into motivational leaders who empower their teams to reach new heights. Remember, a motivated team is a productive team, and that’s the recipe for success in any business.

Follow our tried and tested Mission: To Manage training: a structured programme aimed at developing the mindset and skillset of new or inexperienced people managers, and those who simply want to raise their game!

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Marianne Page

Marianne is the author of three books, and is currently working on her fourth, whilst regularly writing her blog, we hope you enjoy it :-)

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Are your managers crushing your team’s spirit?

We all know how crucial effective systems and a motivated team are for success, right? But, what if I told you that even the most finely-tuned systems can fail if your managers aren't training your team effectively or motivating them to succeed?

Follow our tried and tested Mission: To Manage training: a structured programme aimed at developing the mindset and skillset of new or inexperienced people managers, and those who simply want to raise their game!

Read more...

Sign up for our regular insights email below

Marianne Page

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Have Any Question?

Are your managers crushing your team’s spirit?

We all know how crucial effective systems and a motivated team are for success, right? But, what if I told you that even the most finely-tuned systems can fail if your managers aren't training your team effectively or motivating them to succeed?

Follow our tried and tested Mission: To Manage training: a structured programme aimed at developing the mindset and skillset of new or inexperienced people managers, and those who simply want to raise their game!

Read more...

Sign up for our regular insights email below

Marianne Page

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