On a recent vacation in the Caribbean, I spotted a flag that said the following:
"The beatings will continue until morale improves."
After a chuckle, this saying really made me stop and think, "how much of my own grief do I bring myself?" Morale is a major part of any successful team. It takes more than education or talent to get ahead in business, it takes teamwork which largely depends on morale.
Can the beatings, or more accurately, negative reinforcement, work to get what you need out of a team? Maybe in the short run but even then it just isn’t all that effective. And more importantly, even if it does net you some immediate gains, long term it’s a real moral killer. Any type of team can suffer low morale if things take a negative turn-- business, family, even sports.
Ask any Detroit Lion’s fan what is missing on that team. Even with some of the top NFL talent and a lot of money, they recently failed again to make a playoff run. So what's missing? One could make a pretty strong case for missing morale. We'll hopefully soon find out under the leadership of a new coach in the wake of Jim Schwartz dismissal. While I doubt they will get rid of their top talent, I do believe there will be a new attitude.
How is your team at work doing? Whether they believe they suck or they think they can win they're right! Wherever you lead you team, remember one thing, "The beatings will continue until morale improves."
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