ChallengesIn this tough economy there are very high expectations from the top. What will you do to keep your team motivated and focused? As per my personal experience in leadership, I have faced immeasurable situations of which where to get answer was not easy. Feeling of motivation is not constant, it should be nurtured and inspired continuously. For any leader this is a major challenge, and that requires a strong commitment as every day will be bringing new challenges.In seminars I have asked leaders about their thinking of the top ways to meet this challenges and have heard consistently – Bonuses, pay raises, time off. All these are true but if you will ask me for opinion, with decades of leadership challenges that the real number one answer will be ‘respect’! every one like to be respected for the work they do.

Think over it, the last time when you set your team down either personally or as a whole team and shown sincere appreciation for their work performance. It really cost you nothing to make clear how things are tough and your appreciation and respect for the work your team is performing under the current situation.
I am sure that you can not motivate them by telling that how lucky they are for having a job. People give response to positive leadership with inspiration and motivation however will be responding to negative leadership with low job and moral performance.

Think if you just had a conversation with your boss in which you made the comment that how tough things are and he responded you like “You should be glad to have a job.” Surely, you would not walk away ready for setting the world on fire as your boss have just motivated you beyond your wildest dreams.

Definitely, times are tough but that’s the time when true leaders rise to the occasion and do that whatever they are paid to do, that is to lead! If you show outstanding leadership through tough times then you will be setting an example for people to imitate. To develop a team and watch them growing into successful and respected leaders is the greatest reward for a leader.

Responsibilities

It can be the government, military or corporate America; they all are having some form of benefits. What role a leader should play to ensure everyone is receptive to benefits and the procedures to use them?
Typically benefits are explained when somebody becomes a new member of any of the organization. The question is that how many people do not forget them or realizes them 30 days later? If will not depend on someone else to look after your team if you are a true leader. I don’t want to suggest that you should not utilize your supportive teams, but what I want to say that you make sure your team is aware of who they are how they can be contacted.

Take an example – Joe wants to pursue night time college courses for improving his qualification and to improve his opportunities in future. He is not having the money for attending the school and he have let the past 6 month’s pass without attending the school. You have realized this as having a talk about his future being surprised that he was not knowing about tuition assistance presented to him by the benefits program.

It is a very normal thing that people unaware the benefits offered, some other general examples are – discounts, insurance, vacations and retirement savings. Yes! as stated previously, they were vindicated initially but don’t forget the excitement of starting a career too and wish to get started. The main things they consider are at what time do I start and how much money I will be making.

Leaders always want great results from their teams and the team members always expect great things from leaders of that team. Rather I would much have my team learn about opportunities from myself rather than have learn that from someone else and wonder why it never be told them by me. It is that the great leaders do, lead.