Your team is facing underperformance issues. How can you boost morale and performance simultaneously?
When your team is struggling with underperformance, it can feel like a steep uphill battle to turn things around. However, as a leader, you have the power to boost both morale and performance, creating a positive and productive environment. The key lies in understanding the root causes of underperformance and addressing them with empathy, strategic planning, and consistent follow-through. By implementing targeted strategies, you can reignite your team's passion for their work and drive them towards success.
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Niranjani RamanLinkedin Top Voice| Delivery Head| Leading GenAI initiatives|CPQ Sub Practice Leader|D&I Leader| WILL Board certified|…
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Nand Kishore Chaudhary (NKC)Social Entrepreneur, Chairman & Managing Director at Jaipur Rugs
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Jayakumar MohanachandranFractional Chief Information Officer | Advisor | Mentor | Techpreneur | President - CIO Association, UAE, Worlds…
Begin by conducting a thorough assessment of your team's needs. Engage in open dialogue to understand their challenges and frustrations. This step is critical because it shows that you value their input and are committed to making improvements. By identifying specific areas where your team feels unsupported or lacks resources, you can tailor your approach to address these issues directly, which can lead to immediate enhancements in both morale and performance.
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Niranjani Raman
Linkedin Top Voice| Delivery Head| Leading GenAI initiatives|CPQ Sub Practice Leader|D&I Leader| WILL Board certified| Speaker
Everyone is unique and every experience is different. A 1:1 with the individuals is the best way forward. This helps to know them, know their wants and needs, know their gaps, and also know their challenges and frustrations. This helps to empathize and hence strategize better to drive them towards their 100% from their current low performance situation. When the individual knows they are heard, they start trusting the relationship and it becomes easier to come up with a win win solution.
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Ritu Handa
Assistant HR Manager
Here's a two-pronged approach to address underperformance and boost morale: 1. Focus on Solutions, not Blame: Schedule open discussions to understand challenges. This shows you care and encourages honest feedback. Together, brainstorm solutions and empower them to take ownership. Feeling heard and involved motivates them to overcome obstacles. 2. Celebrate Wins (Big & Small): Recognize both individual and team achievements. Public praise or small rewards for milestones create a sense of accomplishment. This positive reinforcement fuels their desire to keep exceeding expectations.
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Kunal Sharma
Founder of a Youth-Run Revolution in Education Through Travel | Practising Lawyer Redefining Boundaries
Start by assessing your team's needs through open conversations. Listen to their challenges and frustrations to show you value their input. Identify where they feel unsupported or lack resources. By understanding these specific areas, you can create targeted solutions that improve both morale and performance quickly. Remember: Listen and learn; knowing your team's needs is key to providing effective support.
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Hasan Rteil
Director at Africa Startup Initiative Program | Telecel Group | MBA
Be present and supportive when your team is struggling. Show them you care by offering help and actively listening to their concerns. By being there for your team, providing guidance, and addressing their needs, you can boost both morale and performance, fostering a culture of trust and collaboration.
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Sheikh Rasik Lawlakh
IBM certified Product Manager | Innovative Product Manager Creating User-Centric Solutions. Passionate About Delivering Exceptional Customer Experiences! | Bachelor of Technology
Focus on efficient communication, openness, employee recognition, empowerment, training, and work-life balance to increase team morale and performance at the same time. These tactics improve involvement and establish a favorable work environment, which improves results.
Setting clear, achievable goals is essential for guiding your team out of an underperformance rut. Goals provide direction and a sense of purpose, which can be incredibly motivating. Ensure that these objectives are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to help your team focus their efforts and measure their progress. Celebrating small wins along the way can further boost morale and encourage continued effort towards larger targets.
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Kunal Sharma
Founder of a Youth-Run Revolution in Education Through Travel | Practising Lawyer Redefining Boundaries
To guide your team out of a performance slump, start by setting clear goals that everyone can understand and work towards. Make sure these goals are realistic and have specific steps to achieve them. Remember, goals give direction and motivation, so celebrate progress along the way to keep everyone inspired. Remember: "Clear goals lead to clear paths; celebrate each step towards success."
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Jayakumar Mohanachandran
Fractional Chief Information Officer | Advisor | Mentor | Techpreneur | President - CIO Association, UAE, Worlds largest association of Chief Information Officers
I believe that setting clear, achievable goals is essential for guiding your team out of an underperformance rut: - Goals give your team a sense of direction and purpose, which can be incredibly motivating. - Recognizing and celebrating small achievements along the way can boost morale and encourage continued effort towards larger targets.
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Eshak Rajendran
Technical Program Manager | Program Management | Data Science & Engineering | Cloud Computing | SaaS platform | Snowflake
Set clear expectations: Clearly communicate performance expectations to your team members. When employees have a clear understanding of what is expected of them, they are more likely to perform well. This clarity helps them focus on their goals and work towards achieving them.
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Victor Prince
Author, HarperCollins | Managing Director, DiscoveredLOGIC | ex-COO of US CFPB | Wharton MBA, Bain & Co., CapitalOne alum | Executive Communication Trainer | #1 Executive Coach in Financial Services industry - Google it!
A public performance dashboard can help as well to show progress. Identify ten or so key metrics and track them every week or month. Publicly share them so everyone can see. If done right, your dashboard will become like a scoreboard in a sports game where everyone can see progress and status.
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Jake D.
Collaborative Leader | Building High Performing Teams | Driving Sustainable Quality Growth.
Set Short-Term Goals and Milestones: Break down larger goals into smaller, achievable milestones. Celebrating these smaller wins can provide a sense of progress and motivate the team to keep moving forward. With setting these goals comes Clear Expectations: Ensure that everyone understands their roles, responsibilities, and performance standards. Clear, measurable goals help team members know what is expected and provide a basis for evaluating performance.
Offering support is a fundamental aspect of leadership. This can take many forms, from providing additional training or resources to being more accessible for guidance. When your team knows they have the support they need to succeed, they're more likely to take on challenges with confidence. This support fosters a positive work environment where team members feel valued and empowered to perform at their best.
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Kunal Sharma
Founder of a Youth-Run Revolution in Education Through Travel | Practising Lawyer Redefining Boundaries
Providing support is essential in leadership. It means offering additional training, resources, or being accessible for guidance. When your team feels supported, they approach challenges confidently. This fosters a positive work environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to excel. Remember: Support breeds confidence and success in your team.
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Jayakumar Mohanachandran
Fractional Chief Information Officer | Advisor | Mentor | Techpreneur | President - CIO Association, UAE, Worlds largest association of Chief Information Officers
I believe that offering support is a crucial aspect of leadership. - Offer additional training or resources to help your team develop new skills or address specific challenges. - Be more accessible for guidance, ensuring that your team knows they can come to you for support and advice.
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Jake D.
Collaborative Leader | Building High Performing Teams | Driving Sustainable Quality Growth.
Provide Training and Development: Offer opportunities for skill development and training. This not only helps improve performance but also shows team members that you are invested in their professional growth. Foster a Positive Work Environment: Create an environment that promotes collaboration, trust, and respect. Encourage team bonding activities and create opportunities for team members to connect on a personal level.
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Mischa Hollenstein
Leadership Guide - leadership coach & professional safari guide I recruiting trainer I communication I employee development I seminars I speaker I salestraining
Ein wesentlicher Bestandteil der Teamführung ist die kontinuierliche Selbstreflexion. Führungskräfte sollten sich regelmässig Zeit nehmen, um ihre eigenen Stärken und Schwächen zu analysieren und Bereiche für persönliches Wachstum zu identifizieren. Ein konkreter Ansatz könnte sein, regelmässige Feedback-Sitzungen mit einem Mentor oder Coach zu vereinbaren, um die eigene Entwicklung zu fördern. Dadurch erkennen Führungskräfte besser auf welche Art Sie mit ihren Voraussetzungen Support leisten können.
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Eshak Rajendran
Technical Program Manager | Program Management | Data Science & Engineering | Cloud Computing | SaaS platform | Snowflake
Provide regular feedback: Regularly provide feedback to your team members, both positive and constructive. Recognize and appreciate their efforts and achievements, and provide guidance on areas where improvement is needed . This feedback loop helps employees understand their strengths and areas for development.
Fostering a culture of teamwork can dramatically improve both morale and performance. When team members collaborate effectively, they share skills, ideas, and support each other, leading to better outcomes and a more enjoyable work experience. Encourage this by organizing team-building activities or collaborative projects that require collective input and effort. This not only enhances productivity but also strengthens the bonds between team members.
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Kunal Sharma
Founder of a Youth-Run Revolution in Education Through Travel | Practising Lawyer Redefining Boundaries
Encouraging teamwork can significantly boost morale and performance. When team members collaborate well, they share skills, ideas, and support each other, leading to better outcomes and a positive work environment. Foster this by organizing team-building activities and collaborative projects that require collective effort. This enhances productivity and strengthens team bonds. Remember: Strong teamwork fuels success and builds a supportive workplace culture.
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Enrique Fuentes Abanades
Director de Esin, escuela Internacional de gestión del talento y socio cofundador de Ataraxia consulting group. Divulgador, escritor, speaker, creador de Líderes con Próposito y cocreador de la Metodología SEED ©
Una persona puede ganar un partido, pero los campeonatos solo los ganan los equipos. Si quieres tener un equipo de alto rendimiento analiza si se están dando estas variables: una misión compartida, un liderazgo claro, roles bien definidos, contextos para la innovación y la creatividad, unos valores compartidos, posibilidad de autodesarrollo, diversidad y una correcta cohesión entre sus miembros.
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Eshak Rajendran
Technical Program Manager | Program Management | Data Science & Engineering | Cloud Computing | SaaS platform | Snowflake
Foster a positive work environment: Create a positive work environment where employees feel valued, supported, and motivated. Encourage open communication, collaboration, and teamwork. When employees feel connected to their work and colleagues, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated
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Jayakumar Mohanachandran
Fractional Chief Information Officer | Advisor | Mentor | Techpreneur | President - CIO Association, UAE, Worlds largest association of Chief Information Officers
I believe that fostering a culture of teamwork is crucial for driving both morale and performance: - When team members collaborate effectively, they share skills, ideas, and support each other, leading to better outcomes and a more enjoyable work experience. - Organize team-building activities or collaborative projects that require collective input and effort to enhance productivity and strengthen bonds between team members.
Recognition goes a long way in boosting morale. Make it a point to acknowledge the hard work and achievements of your team members. This recognition can be as simple as a verbal commendation or as formal as a rewards program. When team members feel appreciated, their satisfaction and engagement levels rise, which naturally leads to improved performance.
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Jayakumar Mohanachandran
Fractional Chief Information Officer | Advisor | Mentor | Techpreneur | President - CIO Association, UAE, Worlds largest association of Chief Information Officers
I believe that recognition is a powerful tool for boosting morale and driving performance. - Make it a point to acknowledge the hard work and achievements of your team members, whether through verbal commendations or formal recognition programs. - When team members feel appreciated, their satisfaction and engagement levels rise, naturally leading to improved performance.
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Eshak Rajendran
Technical Program Manager | Program Management | Data Science & Engineering | Cloud Computing | SaaS platform | Snowflake
Recognize and reward achievements: Recognize and reward the achievements of your team members. Celebrate milestones, accomplishments, and exceptional performance. This recognition can be in the form of verbal praise, public acknowledgment, or small gestures like tokens of appreciation
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Jake D.
Collaborative Leader | Building High Performing Teams | Driving Sustainable Quality Growth.
Recognize and Celebrate Achievements: Regularly acknowledge and celebrate individual and team successes, no matter how small. Recognition can be a powerful motivator and can help boost morale. Foster a Positive Work Environment: Create an environment that promotes collaboration, trust, and respect. Encourage team bonding activities and create opportunities for team members to connect on a personal level.
Lastly, be prepared to adjust your strategies as needed. What works for one team may not work for another, and what works today may need tweaking tomorrow. Stay attuned to your team's response to your initiatives and be flexible enough to make changes. Continuous improvement should be a shared goal, and by demonstrating your willingness to adapt, you set a powerful example for your team to follow.
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Eshak Rajendran
Technical Program Manager | Program Management | Data Science & Engineering | Cloud Computing | SaaS platform | Snowflake
Offer professional development opportunities: Invest in the professional development of your team members. Provide opportunities for training, learning, and growth. When employees see that their organization is invested in their development, it boosts their morale and motivates them to perform better.
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Jake D.
Collaborative Leader | Building High Performing Teams | Driving Sustainable Quality Growth.
Encourage Innovation and Creativity: Empower team members to suggest new ideas and approaches to their work. Providing a platform for innovation can boost engagement and lead to improved performance.
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Olivia Rutman, CTP
Founder | Innovator | Speaker | Leader | Childcare Expert | Top 40 Under 40 | 3x Boy Mom | CEO at Kids Care Finder
You first need to understand why they are not motivated and if/ when there was a noticeable shift in performance. Then it’s important to understand what motives each of them. It’s not one size fits all. There may be bigger issues at play that are less in your control, and if that’s the case you need to know. For the things you can control, you can assign them stretch projects they are passionate about, ramp up recognition, and gamify and create competitions to get them excited. But understand the why first, before you try to solve.
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Nand Kishore Chaudhary (NKC)
Social Entrepreneur, Chairman & Managing Director at Jaipur Rugs
Understanding the problem first helps solve underperformance issues. We should know if our people are facing any kind of problem. Having an open mind while listening to their concerns helps us better understand the situation. As leaders, we should also know their potential and utilize it in the best possible manner. If they are doing something that doesn’t drive them passionately, then maybe they are equipped for the wrong role. Letting them know themselves and understand their core helps them make better decisions. When they are in the right place, their morale and performance will increase automatically, leading to a more purposeful life.
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Narayan Kamath
Executive Leadership Coach - I help Engineering/Technology Leaders multiply their impact, enjoy greater career success and feel more fulfilled
Often, good performance is in itself a morale booster. So ensuring that your team improves its performance also helps address the issue of low morale. Of course, this needs you to ensure that the standards are clear, the results are visible, and that good performance is recognised and rewarded.
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Dorothy B.
Addressing employee needs is vital for organizational success, as it boosts engagement, productivity, job satisfaction, and profitability. • Providing Clarity and Direction: Communicating team's goals, priorities, and expectations clearly. • Recognizing Achievements: Implementing a recognition program and providing timely feedback. • Professional Development: Offering training, mentoring, and learning opportunities. • Open Communication: Regular check-ins, team meetings, and feedback loops. • Collaboration and Teamwork: Encouraging cross-functional collaboration and team-building activities. • Empowering and Delegating: Providing team members with autonomy and resources. • Leading by Example: Modeling a positive, solution-oriented mindset.
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Jake D.
Collaborative Leader | Building High Performing Teams | Driving Sustainable Quality Growth.
Lead by Example: Demonstrate the behaviors and attitudes you expect from your team. Show commitment, positivity, and resilience in the face of challenges. Solicit Regular Feedback: Regularly ask for feedback from your team on what’s working and what isn’t. Use this feedback to make necessary adjustments and show that you value their input. Provide Resources and Support: Ensure the team has the necessary resources to perform their tasks effectively. This includes access to tools, technology, and any other support they might need.
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Mischa Hollenstein
Leadership Guide - leadership coach & professional safari guide I recruiting trainer I communication I employee development I seminars I speaker I salestraining
Die Förderung von Diversität und Inklusion ist ein Schlüssel zur Verbesserung der Teamleistung und -moral. Unterschiedliche Perspektiven und Hintergründe bereichern die Teamarbeit und führen zu innovativen Lösungen. Führungskräfte sollten darauf achten, ein inklusives Umfeld zu schaffen, in dem alle Teammitglieder ihre Ideen und Meinungen einbringen können. Ein konkretes Beispiel könnte die Einführung eines Programms zur Förderung von Vielfalt und Inklusion im Unternehmen sein.
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