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Submitted January 2025
Dear Toby:
I’m a manager at a mid-sized company, and I can’t shake the feeling that my team is actively disengaged. Deadlines are being met, but just barely, and morale seems low.
People don’t contribute much in meetings, and I’ve noticed an increase in sick days. I want to fix this, but I’m not sure where to start. How can I re-engage my team and get things back on track?
— Feeling Stuck
When feeling overwhelmed by a big problem, it is easiest to break down the issues before you build back up stronger. Here are some ideas of points to keep in mind when it comes to building a strong and engaged culture:
1. What is the Problem?: Identify what could be causing problems by conducting one-to-one or team discussions to uncover what the underlying issues might be. An anonymous survey can be used to gather honest feedback on what is affecting morale the most. Make sure you use a blend of question options in your survey, such as rating scales, yes/no questions, and open ended questions to get a well rounded view of your teams perspectives.
2. Let’s Talk About it: Ensure your team is being informed of goals, challenges and changes. Make sure your team knows that their concerns and suggestions are being heard by you. This is a great time to brush up on your active & empathic listening skills!
3. Who Does What and What Do We Want: Revisit and align with the team on shared goals. Ensure that all contributions feel meaningful, and recognized. You should also be careful to ensure all roles and responsibilities are clearly defined to avoid confusion or overlap.
4. Positivity!!: Celebrate wins with the team (big and small). Start to rebuild trust within the team with team-building activities and collaboration. Encouraging a healthy work life balance can also promote positivity - when employees feel valued and rested, they come to work with a more positive mindset. Addressing any workload concerns on the team can help reduce burnout and sick days.
5. Support and Grow: Ensure the team has all the tools and training they need to succeed. Providing opportunities for training and mentorship can help empower the team to grow and become more engaged.
6. Empowerment: Encourage the team to take ownership of projects and support their ideas by giving them room to innovate. Lead by example, rather than micromanagement, and you might be surprised at how well your team can step up to the plate.
7. Be a Leader: The team will take note of your energy, by demonstrating the attitude you want the team to have it will influence them. Ensure your team knows they can come to you to feel heard and valued. If you feel like you still need some work developing your leadership skills, try picking up a book on leadership or engage with an executive coach. Or both!
8. Is This Working?: No two business’s or teams are alike, so check in regularly on team moral and productivity. If areas are not improving, be willing to go back to the drawing board to adjust what doesn’t work.
If you want to read more about creating a positive company culture, you can read more on this post: Creating Positive Company Culture on a Small Budget: A Guide for Professionals
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