Management in Stressful Times<br>Getting Employees to Give their Best, When They're Already Working So Hard!
by Suzanne Bates
Whether you are managing people after a layoff or downsizing, or you are currently unable to hire for positions that are important, you're probably asking people to do more, right now. The current business climate is stressful for all of us - and as a manager, your goal is to alleviate stress and help people to be productive.
How can you ask more of people when they are already working hard? Start by thinking about what actually needs to be done now. Personally, I have a tendency to have middle-of-the-night brainstorms that in turn create projects for our team. Occasionally they remind me tactfully that they already have a lot on their plates - the message - so what do you really need me to do now?
While writing Motivate Like a CEO, one of the most important discoveries I made is that people really don't mind working hard, when they know what they do matters - when it is connected to a larger purpose. Just the other day, a client who is a senior executive told a story about a time when he was facing a crushing deadline to complete a project. He had to ask people to work nights and weekends to get it done. At the end, to his surprise, each one came and thanked him for the opportunity. They felt closely connected to a project that was successful, they appreciated the opportunity to apply their talents, and they built strong relationships with each other that connected them even further to the organization.
Here are 7 tips on how to help your team do more with less
- Communicate constantly: In times like these, many managers tend to withdraw, because they aren't getting clear direction from their own bosses. Budgets are on hold, projects are postponed, and this is creating tremendous uncertainty. In fact, I would argue that while many employees are working harder than ever, many aren't doing as much - because decisions haven't been made, and this is equally stressful!
- Make personal connections: People need to hear from you in a variety of ways - use every channel possible, but in stressful times, make sure you are walking around, talking to people, and listening to what they have to say. If they have an opportunity to vent, and they know you've heard them, they are far more likely to put their shoulders to the wheel in spite of the challenges.
- Get clear about your own priorities: Managers often hear that they need to communicate their priorities, but you can't communicate them if you haven't decided what they are. You need to make the tough decisions about what really needs to be done now, and what can wait. Be honest with yourself about the time it takes to accomplish anything - push people - but don't expect miracles.
- Reassess day to day, even hour to hour: In the current business environment what seemed important yesterday may not be so important today. This isn't to say you should shift with the wind; overall your priorities must be based on a business strategy, but within those parameters, you need to reassess constantly and help your team make good decisions about where to spend their time.
- Get in closer touch with customers, prospects, vendors and employees: You need up to the minute information in order to make decisions, and then you need to communicate this intelligence with your team. You'll have far more success getting people to work together, and foster collaboration, if your information is solid.
- Praise, reward and recognize: People really don't mind working hard, they just want to know that their efforts are appreciated.
- Connect people with purpose and passion toward a common goal. In researching my new book, our own surveys showed overwhelmingly that people work for a paycheck but long for a purpose. They long for leaders to connect them with something greater than themselves. You won't believe how hard people are willing to work when they know you value their contributions, and those contributions really matter!