Jason Troyna Updated on November 15, 2022

Let's talk about Morale

Where we are Wrong

Many mistakenly assume that morale is when people are kept happy and that we can create that happiness by making people come together or just giving them time off.

Unfortunately, that's not necessarily the case. What is observed is only the outward thing you see when morale is present. When teams are together, and they're doing events, having barbecues, or interacting with each other in a very positive way, that is only a symptom of good morale.

Many well-meaning leaders enforce these events thinking that it's creating morale. Many want the appearance of a happy, cohesive team without looking deeper into why good teams have that spark. Like when we're going to have a shop barbecue or we're going to do a team building event. Many of these things are simply symptoms and promising signs that you have good morale but not what causes the desired outcome.

Consistency is Key

So, what are we trying to control when we're talking about morale? Instead of making what we commonly refer to as mandatory fun, focus on consistency.

Consistency is the foundation of morale; without it, any attempt to build good morale will crumble. An easy example is when individuals have a consistent work schedule and know where they belong. They know if they show up to work late, they're going to get in trouble. They know they won't get in trouble if they show up to work on time. If you believe that showing up on time is 15 minutes before start time, you need to clarify that the personnel must show up at 6:45 and not at 7:00. Strive to establish consistent report times and places. Moving the goalposts and unclear expectations will poison the well of morale that your team pulls from each day.

So consistency is critical. It's one of the essential things with morale, and that consistency falls in more categories than your shop time. It's also consistency with discipline; you can't fly off the handle if something is wrong or hold people to different standards. That inconsistency creates terrible morale. If one person shows up late, you put your foot down, but another person comes in, and you'll let it slide. And even though you may be the issue, you will see that the team suffers. Relationships between members will be strained.

The leader can drive the feeling in an organization whether they know it or not. Be cautious and be deliberate about how you manage and lead your team. Start with creating a consistent environment as possible.

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If you have stories or questions about building morale with consistency we would love to hear it from you. Contact us at stories@3echo.co