How can I be a great boss and rebuild morale fast?

Dear Aunty B,

We have been through a rough trot and are not out of the woods yet, but can see glimmers of sunshine through the cracks.

People are still fearful of losing their jobs even though we have made it clear that we are through the worst.

My feeling is though, they don’t completely trust the new structure and processes we have put in place and won’t until the market picks up. But that means we are not operating at optimal capacity.

How do I get us firing on all cylindars?

Luke,
Brisbane

Dear Luke,

Congratulations! You are through the worst and are looking to the future! And you are right to be focussed on putting some firepower behind the team.

Here is what you must do. First of all, examine your own behaviour. You have been through a tough period and the temptation is to shut the door and turn inwards. Watch the signals that you and your senior managers are giving out to employees. Remember they are watching your every move, trying to second guess what is happening and if their jobs are safe. Are you still having lots of closed door meetings? Is the senior management still stressed and edgy? Is the occasional employee still disappearing?

Start to turn that around. It is the time for open doors and lots of communication. It is time to be warm and complimentary. It is time for a few surprises. Just a surprise 30 minute walk with the whole team in the late winter sunshine is a great morale booster. Or a cake to celebrate a great week of work.

Also, have a look at what you might have cut back through the hard times. It is surprising but it is often the little things that count. When I was a wage slave at Fairfax, many budget cuts took place. But one that had the most impact was the cutting out of a long standing tradition: biscuits. Worse, there would often be boardroom functions where lavish feasts were put on, which made the staff feel like second-class citizens.

When we started SmartCompany, the first thing we did was make sure we had a ready supply of not just biscuits, but a wide range of biscuits, including mint slices. We also brought in fruit – and not just normal fruit but organic fruit. The message? We care. So bring back a “symbol” which will add to a sense of things returning to normal for your staff.

Lastly, reflect on the lessons you have learnt from this crisis and how your actions have affected staff behavior. Just think how much better you will be at this the next time around!

Good luck,
Your Aunty B

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