Post by Stacey Fraser on Jun 15, 2021 9:44:58 GMT
Lesson #4
Write an article (no more than 500 words) that offers insight into the elements that you feel build and maintain staff morale. Be specific and give examples as appropriate. Please post your article on the Discussion Board.
Happiness can be contagious; smiles can be infectious; humor can be miraculous. One of the major keys to building and maintaining staff morale is infusing smiles, happiness, and humor into everyday work. Whether it is purposeful smiling or natural grins, it is hard to resist a mirrored reaction. Similarly, a well delivered joke, a joke falling flat, or a wacky encounter can elicit a giggle, a snicker. Giggles, snickers, and grins build and can lead to happiness.
Creating positive staff morale and maintaining the same is a monumental task. Books are written on the subject, studies are conducted, experts are consulted. Everyone has an opinion on what is the right way to go about building morale and what might be the wrong way to go about doing it. At the end of all the information, one tends to be left even more clueless than before or more intimidated by the depth of the endeavor.
I recently walked into the office, walked around, and took the “temperature” (not COVID related) of those working. I immediately zeroed in on the guy with a scowl of his face. It was immediately obvious I was not the only one who had noticed the scowl. I sat down with him and smiled at him. He stared blankly at me. I smiled at him again so wide my teeth showed. He looked startled or curious, I am not sure which. Then I did the “secret smile”, my smile when my nose crinkles up and all the lines on my face really show. I got a small snicker, a half-smile, and more staring. But I also got giggles from those around us, several, “you’re crazy, Stacey” comments and a lot of head shaking. More importantly, I still got that half-smile with a somewhat mumbled, “sorry, rough morning” and a seemingly evened out mood the rest of the day.
I really do not think laughter, smiles, and happiness are the best approaches for everyone. I think a leader needs to use what is inherent to their personality, the connection ability each leader has with their team. For me, it is showing my human side, good or bad. It is about honesty, being genuine and loyal, and real always, with wackiness thrown in.
Building positive morale and maintaining it are tough tasks. Leaders should not try to be something they are not; they should use what strengths they naturally possess as their basis and work at learning other concrete skills. One can read books and be told how to do something all day long but if a connection is not made, it is not going to work. Connections are made through time, trust, and loyalty. Connections are the building blocks of successful leadership, building teams, and continuing positive morale.
Write an article (no more than 500 words) that offers insight into the elements that you feel build and maintain staff morale. Be specific and give examples as appropriate. Please post your article on the Discussion Board.
Smile, Keep your chin up, and Laugh!
Happiness can be contagious; smiles can be infectious; humor can be miraculous. One of the major keys to building and maintaining staff morale is infusing smiles, happiness, and humor into everyday work. Whether it is purposeful smiling or natural grins, it is hard to resist a mirrored reaction. Similarly, a well delivered joke, a joke falling flat, or a wacky encounter can elicit a giggle, a snicker. Giggles, snickers, and grins build and can lead to happiness.
Creating positive staff morale and maintaining the same is a monumental task. Books are written on the subject, studies are conducted, experts are consulted. Everyone has an opinion on what is the right way to go about building morale and what might be the wrong way to go about doing it. At the end of all the information, one tends to be left even more clueless than before or more intimidated by the depth of the endeavor.
I recently walked into the office, walked around, and took the “temperature” (not COVID related) of those working. I immediately zeroed in on the guy with a scowl of his face. It was immediately obvious I was not the only one who had noticed the scowl. I sat down with him and smiled at him. He stared blankly at me. I smiled at him again so wide my teeth showed. He looked startled or curious, I am not sure which. Then I did the “secret smile”, my smile when my nose crinkles up and all the lines on my face really show. I got a small snicker, a half-smile, and more staring. But I also got giggles from those around us, several, “you’re crazy, Stacey” comments and a lot of head shaking. More importantly, I still got that half-smile with a somewhat mumbled, “sorry, rough morning” and a seemingly evened out mood the rest of the day.
I really do not think laughter, smiles, and happiness are the best approaches for everyone. I think a leader needs to use what is inherent to their personality, the connection ability each leader has with their team. For me, it is showing my human side, good or bad. It is about honesty, being genuine and loyal, and real always, with wackiness thrown in.
Building positive morale and maintaining it are tough tasks. Leaders should not try to be something they are not; they should use what strengths they naturally possess as their basis and work at learning other concrete skills. One can read books and be told how to do something all day long but if a connection is not made, it is not going to work. Connections are made through time, trust, and loyalty. Connections are the building blocks of successful leadership, building teams, and continuing positive morale.