Inevitably, summertime comes with dips in motivation. Changes in weather and families planning vacation time may conflict with the normal processes of the rest of the year. Whether your team is trying to work with limited resources, limited time, or even difficulty with prioritization, you can take steps to stay motivated through it all. Here are several tips you can use to help take control of your team’s motivation during the summer months.
Set a Positive Tone for the Day
Managers can do a lot to improve morale and motivation for their team. Star with a simple pep talk in the mornings. The mornings are a great time to be productive when your team is feeling motivated. Finding a way to maintain that momentum can be tough without a cheerleader. So be your team’s cheerleader! Setting the tone for productivity early in the day, your team will feel energized and ready to take on new tasks and accomplish things they’ve been putting off. Motivation and productivity are largely about mindset. If you keep your eye on the prize and don’t allow for distractions, you will be amazed at what you and your team can accomplish in a day, even when the sun is shining.
Get Real About the Work
Sometimes a lack of motivation sneaks in when we are blocked or challenged by limited time or resources. The best way to address motivational stressors is by getting direct. Show your team that you understand the challenges they are faced with when team members are out on vacation, or you are otherwise understaffed. Reprioritize the work given what is and isn’t achievable. Unmet expectations can be a challenging pill to swallow, but work is work at the end of the day. Sometimes, it can be as simple as telling your team you understand and that you also need to power through. You’ll reassure your team by not overlooking the challenges that come with the season and remotivating them even when working conditions aren’t perfect.
What’s Your Work Style?
Do you work better in the mornings and need a little downtime after lunch? Are you a night owl who can power through tough action items late into the evening? Only you know your ideal work style best. And similarly, only your team knows what works best for them. Communicate to better enable everyone on the team. Once you figure out how and when you and your team work best, you can help motivate everyone to do even better.
Take Breaks
There is a reason lunch breaks and coffee breaks are woven into the fabric of work life. Workers need to take a little time to recuperate before hitting the ground running again. Make sure you encourage your team to take advantage of that downtime to stay motivated throughout the day. Allow them the time they need to recharge and refocus so that when they are back on the job, they can bring their best.
Pay Attention to Mental Health
Motivation comes from the brain, so make sure your team is brain healthy, not just body healthy. Mental and emotional well-being are just as important as ensuring your team isn’t overheated or dehydrated. You likely have felt the energy highs and lows associated with caffeine and sugar consumption. That extra jolt of energy can be enough to help you power through on a tough day in a work environment. But drinking enough water and eating healthy food throughout the work day will keep your energy level and your mind more productive at a steady pace. If someone on your team is struggling with larger mental health challenges, enable them to get the help they need because everyone deserves to have a happy and healthy mind.
For more tips on keeping your team motivated and organized this summer, connect with the team at Happy Faces Records Management today.
