Have you ever worked in an environment where it seemed like everyone was out for themselves and their best interests? An environment where team members received criticism way more than recognition? One where everyone regularly gets projects piled high on their to-do lists, even though their plates are already pretty full? A place where team members dread coming to work on Monday mornings, but they do it because the job pays the bills? That’s going on right now in countless offices and other working environments around the globe—maybe even closer to home than you think. Perhaps it’s happening right under your watch. The first several months of one of my marketing roles, we had a work environment that was uninspiring and in no way ideal for a solid and powerful team. I quickly realized that I had a very important position that could make or break my success as a leader, which directly affects my team member’s work life. That was the beginning of my mission to make work an enjoyable place for my people.
As a manager or supervisor, is one of your main goals to be a great leader to your team? If you said “yes”, good, because that’s a major part of your role. And what an amazing opportunity that is, to be able to impact people’s lives on a daily basis. You literally have the chance to help your team members love being at work or at the very least, like being at work, daily. So how do you do this? Well that topic could be covered in a whole book if we had the time—that’s how important, intense and extensive that topic is. But what I will do is share with you 8 things you could do starting this week to effect change in your team member’s disposition about their position on your team.
1. Give Shout Outs
People tend to feel good about the role they play in a team setting when they feel appreciated and valued. Encourage your team members by acknowledging their achievements, whether big or small. Kind words, showing recognition for the impact they’re making on the team or to the company will make a difference. It could be as simple as mentioning in a project update email, where several people are copied including your own manager, how great a job a team member is doing as they spearhead a portion of the project.
2. Simply Smile
Yes, simply smile. Research by Uppsala University in Sweden has shown that smiling is infectious. Someone else’s smile suppresses our control over our facial muscles, compelling us to smile. So if you smile at a team member that seems unhappy, they will smile back. Smiling also triggers endorphins which are hormones that make you feel happier. As a leader that wants to change the atmosphere to one that’s more joyful, it’s time to life your head from your work and start smiling at your team!
3. Speak Your Support
If you believe words of affirmation are effective, then this one is a no-brainer to you. People respond to positive words, especially if it’s about the fact that you trust and believe in them. By you saying these things to your team members, it instills confidence in them. They will begin to feel that the work that they’re doing is relevant, within their capability, and not a waste of time. They’ll begin to feel like it truly matters, because what they’re doing matters to you, their leader, and you believe in their skill and talent. There are similarities between the head of the household in a person’s life and the head of a team at the workplace. When your leader supports you and finds you valuable, you step up to the plate with a sense of empowerment and motivation. Note: Be sure that your decision making reflects what you’re saying to your team members. If you trust and believe in them, it should not only be words, but also be evident through your actions.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Ephesians 4:29
4. Break Ice Together
When you have your bi-weekly or monthly team meetings, incorporate ice-breakers. Why? Ice-breakers give everyone the opportunity to get to know each other a little bit more than they did before. It also allows team members and you, to get vulnerable in front of each other. I used to incorporate ice-breakers in my team meetings and things got deep, which deepened our relationships and made it more enjoyable to work with one another. Vulnerability opens the door for unity and bond-building. When you have bonds at work, you enjoy being at work.
5. Be a Hero
Have you ever been in a position where you had the option to throw someone under the bus because they totally messed up and they made you look bad in the process? Sometimes that person is a team member. They may have had good intentions or they may have carelessly dropped the ball—nonetheless, your name was attached to it because they’re your team member. Well, you could get upset or even point the finger, but instead, try this: Stick up for your team member and look past the mistake. It’s so easy to get prideful and throw stones. What’s not so easy, but is the better thing to do is, have your team member’s back and take the “L” on your pride. Your relationship with your team member is more important than being the “winner” or being right in the situation. This will make your team member feel good about their leader which directly relates to how they feel about their work environment. Note: “L” = loss. =)
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
Romans 12:10
6. Feed Bellies
It is said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Well I think that can be applied to just about anyone. You don’t need a stat to believe that people love food! So bring in some joy at work by periodically surprising your team with breakfast in the morning or snacks for the late afternoon. You can even delight them with lunch for an early afternoon meeting. Free food is always a mood booster!
“So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 8:15
7. Meet Up for a Catch Up
Do you give your team members undivided time with each of them? Well that’s one thing you’ll want to incorporate into your team culture if you’re not already doing so. A one-on-one meeting is a time when you shut everything else out and you focus on your team members on an individual basis. This is when you give them an opportunity to share what’s on their minds—their work challenges, work victories, ideas, and whatever is on their hearts that they’re comfortable enough to divulge. One-on-ones are huge when it comes to creating an inspiring environment. It makes team members feel considered and heard, resulting in them feeling good about their work environment. Note: A few things you’ll want to do to be sure that this time is not counterproductive, 1. Never reschedule this meeting if you can help it, 2. Always be on time, 3. Don’t cut the meeting short because you have other priorities to handle, 4. Follow up with what you discussed, especially the action items on your part, and 5. Don’t use it as a time to give them more work.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24-25
8. Inspire with Words
Starting the day with reading inspirational words is a powerful practice. Bring that practice into your team dynamic to create an inspirational environment by incorporating an inspirational quote of the day! The quotes could be from anywhere—a well-known movie, author, speaker, or book, which most definitely can include the Bible. What a great opportunity to let the Word of God inspire the people you’ve been entrusted with at work.
“My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Colossians 2:2-3
What other ways do you recommend fellow readers to create an inspiring work environment for their teams? Leave your comments below.
To powerful workweeks and good morning eats!
Love,
Yardley
BERRIES & CRÈME FILLED CREPES
Ingredients
2 eggs
1 ¾ cup Almond Milk
1-2 Tbsp. Coconut Oil
1 ¾ cups Gluten Free Flour, I chose a Chickpea and Almond Flour combination
¼ Tsp. Sea Salt
2 Tsp. Honey, for drizzling
½ Tsp. Cardamom, for sprinkling
2 cups Greek Yogurt—I used Cabot’s Vanilla Greek Yogurt
1 ½ cups Blackberries, or any berry you prefer
Instructions
– In a blender, blend the eggs, almond milk, flour, sea salt, and honey until smooth
– Heat a pan (non-stick is preferred) to medium to medium high heat and lightly coat the pan with coconut oil—feel free to use a kitchen towel
– Begin pouring approximately a ¼ cup of batter starting from the center of the pan as you would a pancake
– Immediately begin turning the pan in a circular motion ensuring that the batter covers the entire surface of the pan, forming a very thin circular shape
– The crepe will cook quickly, so this process must be done quickly as well but with finesse
– Using a spatula or without, if you have flipping skills, flip the crepe to the other side to ensure both sides are cooked
– Once one crepe is cooked, remove from pan and place on plate
– Repeat until batter is finished
– Scoop out a spoonful of yogurt and spread a generous amount to the center of one crepe
– Add berries on top of the yogurt
– Begin rolling the crepe like a sandwich wrap without folding the ends
– Allow yogurt and berries to peak out of the ends
– Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with cardamom
– Repeat until all crepes are yogurt-filled
– Sprinkle coconut shavings if you prefer—I happen to enjoy the texture of the coconut with the crepes
– Serve and enjoy breakfast!
I loved this article and will certainly apply it to my team.
Thank you so much! I hope they feel encouraged!