In this tough economic climate, it can be difficult to motivate your employees. They are anxious about losing their jobs, and this anxiety drains the focus and drive that you need for your company's success.
Your top job is to help your staff determine the best areas to focus on and how to take action so that productivity levels stay high. Over the years, I have discovered four effective emotions can help staff members move from fear to positive action. These include:
Control Optimism Purpose Engagement
These techniques will help you guide your employees away from feelings of fear to empowering COPE feelings.
1. Control
The out of control feelings people have over the state of our economy is a key reason why so many people are anxious and fearful. People don't like to be out of control. Employees can better deal with the uncertainty if their managers help them regain the feeling of control.
Although the economic problems are worrying, there is no real point in worrying about something we cannot control. By getting your employees to focus on customer service and productivity, you can allow them to regain a sense of control.
As a leader of a group of employees, you may find you need to give up a portion of your own control to give your staff a feeling of empowerment toward improving their lives. A know it all approach will do nothing but create suspicion and hostility from your staff. It is very important that you encourage them to involve themselves in the areas of the company where they can have a positive impact.
2. Optimism
History has proven time and again that good leaders use optimism as a core strategy in re-igniting faltering organization, motivating troops and even changing national policies for the better.
It's your job as a leader to motivate your employees to keep a positive outlook and give their best performance. Studies show that hope, optimism, and other positive emotions promote the qualities your company needs to cope with the economic downturn, such as innovation and creativity. Employees who address problems with and attitude geared toward action and solution will produce the results you need for your business to be successful.
3. Purpose
Day to day job duties typically do little to remind a worker of the reasons their work is important over the long run. Take opportunities to remind your staff that their work has great meaning to the overall success of the company. Even hearing a simple reminder that their work matters will invigorate them to up their performance level and take action.
Jim Owens, Senior Vice President for North America operations of H.B. Fuller, stresses that the leader's job is to put a positive path forward and to be clear about what targets people, and the organization as a whole, need to hit. He says, "Don't leave it up to people to translate and fill in the gaps on their own."
4. Engagement
One final factor in the COPE strategy is engagement. Employees who are engaged know and care about how the company is performing and its goals for the future. Engaged employees also believe their job will help to contribute to those goals in a real way.
Engagement means actively involving your employees in looking for solutions. When your organization is dealing with challenges, provide opportunities for your employees to get involved in problem-solving. Doing so not only increases employees' sense of control, it also unites your organization and helps you come up with solutions!
Sashco Sealants, a Denver based company just recently asked the staff to provide their ideas for cost saving within the organization. They received dozens of ideas, which they shared weekly with the team leaders of each function within the company. Senior management encouraged the team leaders to take the ideas to their team to implement and report back the results. Significant savings within the company have already been achieved.
In summary, by following the COPE model, you can use positive, proactive leadership to get the best out of your employees, and to create a great workplace environment that breeds innovation, focus and productivity. - 31963
Your top job is to help your staff determine the best areas to focus on and how to take action so that productivity levels stay high. Over the years, I have discovered four effective emotions can help staff members move from fear to positive action. These include:
Control Optimism Purpose Engagement
These techniques will help you guide your employees away from feelings of fear to empowering COPE feelings.
1. Control
The out of control feelings people have over the state of our economy is a key reason why so many people are anxious and fearful. People don't like to be out of control. Employees can better deal with the uncertainty if their managers help them regain the feeling of control.
Although the economic problems are worrying, there is no real point in worrying about something we cannot control. By getting your employees to focus on customer service and productivity, you can allow them to regain a sense of control.
As a leader of a group of employees, you may find you need to give up a portion of your own control to give your staff a feeling of empowerment toward improving their lives. A know it all approach will do nothing but create suspicion and hostility from your staff. It is very important that you encourage them to involve themselves in the areas of the company where they can have a positive impact.
2. Optimism
History has proven time and again that good leaders use optimism as a core strategy in re-igniting faltering organization, motivating troops and even changing national policies for the better.
It's your job as a leader to motivate your employees to keep a positive outlook and give their best performance. Studies show that hope, optimism, and other positive emotions promote the qualities your company needs to cope with the economic downturn, such as innovation and creativity. Employees who address problems with and attitude geared toward action and solution will produce the results you need for your business to be successful.
3. Purpose
Day to day job duties typically do little to remind a worker of the reasons their work is important over the long run. Take opportunities to remind your staff that their work has great meaning to the overall success of the company. Even hearing a simple reminder that their work matters will invigorate them to up their performance level and take action.
Jim Owens, Senior Vice President for North America operations of H.B. Fuller, stresses that the leader's job is to put a positive path forward and to be clear about what targets people, and the organization as a whole, need to hit. He says, "Don't leave it up to people to translate and fill in the gaps on their own."
4. Engagement
One final factor in the COPE strategy is engagement. Employees who are engaged know and care about how the company is performing and its goals for the future. Engaged employees also believe their job will help to contribute to those goals in a real way.
Engagement means actively involving your employees in looking for solutions. When your organization is dealing with challenges, provide opportunities for your employees to get involved in problem-solving. Doing so not only increases employees' sense of control, it also unites your organization and helps you come up with solutions!
Sashco Sealants, a Denver based company just recently asked the staff to provide their ideas for cost saving within the organization. They received dozens of ideas, which they shared weekly with the team leaders of each function within the company. Senior management encouraged the team leaders to take the ideas to their team to implement and report back the results. Significant savings within the company have already been achieved.
In summary, by following the COPE model, you can use positive, proactive leadership to get the best out of your employees, and to create a great workplace environment that breeds innovation, focus and productivity. - 31963
About the Author:
Wendy Mack is a experienced advisor, trainer, and author with a focus in leading and communicating change. Contact Wendy at, or Download her free e-book, Transforming Anxiety into Energy at www.WendyMack.com.
