Motivating Employees Through Today’s Economic Crisis- Executive Strategies

By Daniel Leidl

Tough Times Call for Tough Measures, Rallying the Troops, Circling the
Wagons, Bunkering Down may all seem like maxed-out maxims in today’s ailing
economy, but what other rallying cries can today’s executives call on? As
layoffs and cutbacks ravage the headlines, is it possible to keep employees
motivated to turn a profit, trudge forward, and maintain business as usual? The
future seems murky, as the economy has only been weaker at one other point in
the nation’s history, an era defined by a moniker of human suffering. A Great
Depression does not seem like anything we would want to revisit, and yet, we
have been assured that our current situation is sure to get worse before it gets
better.

While times may look bleak, there is still work to be done and opportunities
to prosper. As with much in life, forward we go regardless of whether we are
prepared and willing. So how do we best advance in such uncommon hours? As
organizational leaders, how do we strive forward while motivating others to do
the same? First off, we may be best to cast aside the trite sayings from above
and reach down into deeper wells, as profound concerns demand profound
solutions. In this regard, increasing the gravity of your language, and painting
a sincere picture of your business amidst the looming historical crisis may
actually benefit motivation. Tying daily efforts into larger, global, and
historical issues infuses the oftentimes monotonous work environment with a
well-founded sense of importance and magnitude. Reminding employees that
sidestepping the obstacles of today’s markets is the stuff of history creates an
engaging motivational narrative that frames a paycheck as more of a bonus than a
single motivational carrot.

Highlighting the historic importance of the mission only sets the stage for
the real motivational punch. First employees have to believe that their efforts
are needed, and then they have to understand how they can help. Establishing
expectations and goals for your staff will serve you well. Providing employees
with a plan of action and objectives to strive for will assist them in
channeling their energy and skill-sets toward accomplishing the tasks ahead.
Begin the journey with a defined destination, and then invite the talents and
enthusiasm of the staff to help the organization advance towards its ends.

People want to achieve, want to be a part of success, and want a stake in the
advancements with which they are associated. Empowering employees to roll up
their sleeves and help out wherever they may be needed could yield unexpected
and welcomed results while augmenting motivation. People will passionately throw
themselves into an opportunity if they are have the skills to succeed and are
empowered to try. Encouraging employees to dedicate themselves to the
organization’s success regardless of their position or bureaucratic policies
will enhance motivation while increasing communication and inter-departmental
synchronicity. In such times, decreasing red-tape may increase buy-in and output
as employees become motivated to give all of themselves to efforts they have a
personal stake in.

Finally, an inspiring leader is keen at pointing out moments of achievement
with praise and acknowledgment. As employees sail the organization through rough
and tumble waters, the captain needs to continually call out words of
encouragement and support while more formally addressing triumphs as the waters
calm. As you advance toward your goals take the time to congratulate and praise
the good ideas, the late nights, the lunch-less days, and early morning arrivals
that keep the organization moving forward. Similarly, each employee is a
necessary cog in the machine, all working to keep the machine functioning
efficiently and effectively, and all efforts to advance the organization should
be praised regardless of how rudimentary they may seem.

From The Hobbit and Lawrence of Arabia to Harriet Tubman
and Moses, great journeys are wrought with peril, loss, suffering, and pain. But
they also reap great reward. History has left us with a belief in the balanced
equation: The more we put in, the more we gain. Today’s climate is teeming with
possibility and hope, but the payout is unlikely to come quickly or easily. The
leaders of today’s organizations have a distinct opportunity to sail through and
navigate unchartered and rough waters. Those who are successful will maintain a
motivated staff that may not even know why they are continually excited to go to
work. The savvy leaders among us will subtly instill the philosophies outlined
herein through day to day efforts, unexpected opportunities for career
advancement, and unscheduled celebrations. In adopting such principles employees
are likely to continue to work hard and advance in the direction of the
organization’s goals regardless of the difficult times ahead.

Daniel Leidl, PhD is a Managing Partner of Meno Consulting, a consulting firm
specializing in leadership development, motivation, organizational culture, and
team building. Dan can be reached through http://www.menoconsulting.com