Don't Be a "Hater" - Be a Celebrator!

When the economy is robust, the Staffing Industry enjoys growth, piggybacking on the expansion of fast-growing and major industries. When demand is high, opportunity comes knocking, asking work teams only to react. Those that do so effectively enjoy the rewards of increasing revenues and the camaraderie winning teams encourage. The ability to overcome the difficulty factor in finding "good" candidates is the defining "high-level" challenge that separates the top-performers from the average players.

As the economy slows, a new challenge emerges. No knocking. This introduces a new business challenge, how to create "something' from "nothing" - making sales in an increasingly competitive environment. For most teams, this brings about collective confusion, procrastination and fear in the face of declining results. These stresses turn camaraderie to antagonism, resulting in a loser's pessimism. A work team's synchronicity is compromised, begging motivation and direction.

What to do?

Talk to each other. Really, that's what I suggest as a starting point. Ask about the following - What are your career goals? Why did you decide you wanted to work here? What would you like to accomplish while you are here? What are you truly good at? What "out of your comfort zone" work are you willing to do? Are there any suggestions you would make if you had the ability to improve the way you did your particular job? Are there any suggestions you would make if you had the ability to improve the way other staff did their particular job?

Out of this simple process comes volumes of information - most of it useful and relevant. This information enables teams to recommend a transformation in the way they, as individual contributors, and supporters of each other, work collectively in the new economic climate.

Get into Line With What Are the Objectives. Continue the conversation and set specific outcomes aligned with desired results. Generally, this will be centered around developing new business and the who, what, when, what and how to go about it.

Make a Plan. It is not a top-down plan, it is the plan developed from hours of conversations with co-workers. They developed it, put it together. And, with my each team member's strong assistance, encouragement, and support, it can be implemented.

Celebrate the Results. This is the part that brings back "winners" camaraderie. Recognize brave actions, continuing attempts in the face of failures, small achievements, ease with changing daily tasks, new skill with unfamiliar activities, and when a coworker "steps up" to "lift up" the team.

So there you have it - communicate and build alignment, fall in with the objectives and celebrate your achievements. In doing so, you just might find that this encourages good people and business behavior that sustains and uplifts top-performing teams, even in uncertain economic times.