The weather is cold and it’s already dark outside. It is now lockdown number three of the pandemic and every day feels like groundhog day; long Teams calls with your colleagues that you can hardly remember seeing in person. Even though there is hope that things may get a little brighter soon, morale is definitely at an all-time low.
That post-Christmas low has been recognized for a long time now, way before we were in the middle of a global pandemic, having to social distance and be sick of hearing the term ‘Covid-19’. In fact, according to the National Statistics, there is a 3 percent increase in depression among women and a 5 percent increase among men in January – that was before the pandemic struck.
If you are looking for <a href=”https://www.verosa.co.uk/what-we-can-do-for-you/management-and-leadership-training”>leadership training courses</a> then look no further!
Do The Kind Thing
When times are tough, a simple, kind word from someone who is your senior can make all the difference to your day. As a leader, never think that you do not have the power to have a positive effect on the climate in the workplace – even when your actual location is far away. In the same way, a snappy email because you were in a hurry or an unnecessarily sharp response to someone’s work can pose a real danger when it comes to morale.
Try taking a few moments each day to think about the things you are thankful for when it comes to your team, your work, or your peers. Express this gratitude. It can have a powerful effect and can be done sincerely. Just saying a very simple thank you to someone who has gone the extra mile can give them a massive boost.
Give yourself the same kindness and thoughtfulness. It is easy to put yourself down the road of not being good enough when you are feeling on the low side and once that thinking starts it can be contagious to those around you.
Get Creative
Giving team members the chance to get stuck into something that will get their creative juices flowing can be a great distraction, be therapeutic, or even see their <a href=”https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/strategy/employee-performance/measuring-data”>performance</a> reach an all-time high.
Giving employees the opportunity to use the ‘right’ side of their brain (that’s the part that is linked to dreams, art, and ideas) can have a great impact on unlocking thinking potential. One reason for this is that when we are creative, our body reduces the stress hormone cortisol, this hormone is known for being a negative obstacle on the road to performance and focus.
Keep Focused On The Road Ahead
Having something to look forward to is a great boost to morale – this is especially true if it comes as a reward for a collaborative effort. A lot of organisations are looking at ways to reward their team later in the year – perhaps with the hope that we will be free from Covid by then.
The reward does not have to be monetary – a European bank has rewarded staff by giving them an extra ‘bank holiday so that they can enjoy quality time with family.
Stay Connected
When we are feeling low, it can be the small things that make the biggest difference. When we ask about a home situation or take interest in the personal lives of employees this creates a good rapport and shows that leaders are human too.
In the same way, sharing the things that worry us with others can be of much benefit during difficult times. one leader who works in a multi-national fintech opened up to the members of his team about how he struggled to switch off and that being at home with family while <a href=”https://www.michaelpage.co.uk/advice/career-advice/growing-your-career/seven-ways-keep-motivated-when-working-home”>working from home</a> was leading to frustration. He was not alone and sharing his struggles helped other members of the team helped them to see that they were not alone and that their boss could in fact relate to them.