Motivating in Tough Times

There’s no doubt that times are tough for almost everyone right now. Many businesses are currently challenged with doing more with less…less resources…less inventory….less people. On top of that we go home to be continually bombarded with not so great news. These challenges can lead to stress, worry and distraction among our co-workers and employees—which is the last thing we need.

For all of us, there is a process to success. You have to have a plan—a detailed plan of what you are going to accomplish and the discipline to follow that plan. While many of us have a strategic plan for what we want to achieve and the steps we’ll take to do so—how many of us have a plan for refocusing and motivating the team? If we can’t align their distracted focus back on the plan and promote a spirit of cooperation, what are the odds of our success?

If you are a manager, a leader, an HR person, or the owner of the company—driving employee engagement, motivating and rallying the team to compete every day is more important than ever.

Zig Ziglar said, “Motivation doesn’t last, but neither does bathing and eating—that’s why we repeat it every day. Stop fiddling around and get started.”

People need to be refocused on what it is they need to be doing that gives them the best opportunity for success and they need to be motivated and inspired to do these things. Behaviors that drive success must be rewarded.

Are you taking the necessary steps daily to accomplish this—or are you just hoping for the best as you wait for the economic downturn to pass?

I’m not saying you’ll create Utopia, but a well thought out engagement strategy, that’s executed faithfully will create significant improvement in morale, focus, and innovative thinking. It will help your people remember to love the competition—to love the daily challenges. It will provide them the reason to go to battle for you each and every day.

What’s your “motivational/engagement” plan? Do you have one? If so, are you following it in a disciplined way? Its not enough to have information, you have to apply it.

Stop fiddling around and get started.