How Managers Can Keep Teams Focused And Motivated
Leading Through Uncertainty
Growth Mindset
Embrace challenges and uncertainties as opportunities for growth and innovation, and feel more empowered.
Master Empathy
Master emotional intelligence for effective communication, fostering a trusting and collaborative environment.
Continuous Improvement
Prioritise personal and professional development, experiencing fulfillment and motivation through learning.Refine your communication skills by learning to harness your emotional intelligence with one of the UK's most acclaimed management training courses.
Why Choose This Training?
More Than Just A Course Of Lectures
What gets in the way of developing and holding on to new communication skills are old habits of thinking and speaking. Even if the advice is very good the reason why it rarely sticks are the mental habits people inevitably revert to, especially under pressure.
Unlearning those old habits and internalising a more effective and lasting approach to communication needs more than a short course of lectures on how to do it.
What Makes This Training Stand Out?
What makes this training stand out is the exceptional support through one-to-one coaching sessions and continuous feedback. Changing behaviour is not an easy task as old habits are hard to break.
With a 40-year track record we can help you cultivate practical skills, and build your confidence to so you can successfully navigate real-world challenges, ensuring lasting behavioural improvements.
Testimonials
Join thousands of participants getting results
"What I love about this course is that I didn't just learn about the topic, this course is about ME. I'm confident I can reliably use my new skills, even when under pressure".
"A lesson for life! The power of effective communication is incredible when one masters the skills "listening with empathy" and "speaking assertively"
Clients We Have Worked With
Well-known companies who have used this course again and again, over many years
Course Summary
Training Objectives
Facing uncertainty is tough for any team. A recent survey found that 75% of managers feel unprepared to lead through uncertain times. This training course is designed to show you practical ways to keep your team focused and motivated, even when the future looks foggy.
- Leaders need to listen and communicate openly with their teams. This makes employees feel valued and respected, boosting motivation.
- Setting clear, realistic goals helps keep the team focused. Show that it's okay to make mistakes as part of learning and growing.
- Encourage a culture where everyone can share ideas and feedback freely. This builds trust and sparks innovation.
- Support personal development by offering chances for team members to learn new skills. It shows you care about their growth beyond just work tasks.
- Prioritise employee well - being with resources for mental health and stress management, creating a positive workplace where everyone feels supported.
Develop Your Emotional Intelligence
You will learn a set of powerful emotional intelligence communication techniques so that you can manage difficult conversations, handle challenging situations, build relationships and set firm boundaries.
Transferable Skills
The goal of this training is to equip you with the tools you need to build strong, lasting relationships in your professional life, although because these skills are so transferable many clients report vast improvements in their personal relationships as well.
Develop Skills
This is a skills development rather than just a theoretical programme, so the emphasis throughout will be on you taking turn after turn, practising your skills, while receiving feedback and coaching about your effect on others.
Repeated Practice and Feedback
In your coaching sessions you will be helped to practise dealing with the kinds of situation you find challenging, again and again, until you are confident you can do it successfully.
Video Analysis
We'll combine practical, hands-on experience with video replay and analysis and discussion of the principles involved to help you gain both skills and understanding. Special attention is paid to your individual training needs, so you can practise your skills in real-life situations that you have to handle at work.
Sustained Change
That's why as well as your place in a small group, this training includes a generous amount of private and confidential one-to-one coaching sessions online, spread over several months, ensuring an exceptional level of support. This will ensure the changes you make are sustained over a longer period of time and any obstacles are overcome. Choose between online training available worldwide, or in-person face-to-face courses in the UK.
Course Dates and Price
For a list of upcoming course dates (for online coaching and face-to-face training), the locations of the next 3-day public courses in the UK and pricing Click here.
Free Initial Session
This initial coaching session serves as an introduction to the "Skills with People" course, allowing you to understand the course's relevance and effectiveness for your specific needs before committing to it.
Tuning In To Your Team's Needs
Listening to what your team needs is key. It helps them feel heard and builds a strong bond.
Transparency with the team and brand
Being open with your team and brand helps everyone feel part of the journey. Share updates, challenges, and successes. This makes employees feel valued and keeps them in the loop. They know where they stand and what's expected of them.
Next, managers should ensure every team member feels important and respected. This builds a strong foundation for motivation and engagement..
Make each team member feel valued and respected
Managers must talk openly with their teams. This means sharing updates, listening to ideas, and saying "thank you." Feeling heard and appreciated makes employees work harder and stay loyal.
Show respect by considering their suggestions seriously. This builds a strong team spirit.
Giving positive feedback is key. Celebrate small wins together. When teams see their hard work paying off, they feel motivated to achieve more. Setting up meetings where everyone shares successes can boost morale significantly.
It shows that every effort counts towards the company's goals.
Create a positive and collaborative company culture
To make a real difference, work on building a strong team spirit. A happy and collaborative workplace keeps everyone motivated and focused. Encourage open talks where people feel safe to share ideas and feedback.
Highlight the good work your team does. Celebrate small wins together. This makes employees feel valued and part of something bigger.
Trust plays a big role too. Show your team you trust them by giving more responsibility when they're ready for it. Support them in taking on new challenges. This helps them grow and shows you believe in their abilities.
A positive culture like this not only boosts job satisfaction but also brings out the best in everyone, making tough times easier to handle as a united front.
Focus on personal development to keep employees feel motivated
Building a positive and collaborative culture sets the stage for personal development. Managers should focus on giving team members chances to grow. This means creating opportunities for learning new skills and improving upon existing ones.
It's about offering support and resources so that employees can take steps towards their own goals.
Engaging in personal development helps keep employees motivated and engaged with their work. By investing in their growth, managers show they value their team not just for what they do, but also for who they can become.
This approach makes people feel respected and valued, leading to better performance and job satisfaction.
Setting Clear and Realistic Goals
Set clear and realistic goals - it's the key to keeping your team on track and motivated, eager to read more?
Don't strive for perfection
Aiming for perfection can slow you down. It's better to set goals that are clear but reachable. This way, teams stay focused and feel they can succeed. Managers should show it's okay to make mistakes as long as everyone learns from them.
This approach keeps everyone moving forward without fear of failing.
Embrace the uncertain and unknown with a positive mindset. Teams look up to leaders who handle challenges with confidence and flexibility. By showing that you're open to new paths, even when things don't go as planned, you inspire your team to adapt and keep trying.
This creates a culture where growth is linked not just to success but also how challenges are met and overcome.
Embrace the uncertainty of the unknown
Learning to deal with uncertainty can be a game changer. Yes, it sounds tough. But, here's the thing - unknowns are part of business and life. Managers who get this don't waste time fearing what they can’t see coming.
Instead, they prepare their teams to adapt and find new ways forward. They make clear goals but keep them flexible enough to change as needed.
Staying open-minded helps everyone see challenges not as roadblocks, but as chances to grow and innovate. This mindset keeps teams motivated and focused on what they can control - their efforts and attitudes towards work.
Fostering Trust and Connection using Emotional Intelligence
Use emotional intelligence to build trust and keep things open between you and your team. Want to find out how? Keep reading.
Build trust through empathy and open communication to keep employees engaged
Managers can keep teams focused and motivated by truly understanding how their team feels. They listen and show they care. This way, trust grows. Open chats make this possible. Everyone feels safe to speak up.
This is key in keeping everyone engaged.
Sharing ideas freely helps too. It shows respect for all voices in the room. A manager who listens well makes a big difference. Teams work better when they know their thoughts matter.
Trust builds strong connections that help everyone do their best work together.
Leverage the expertise of others
Trust builds a strong foundation. From here, it's smart to use what others know well. No one has all the answers alone. So, pulling in ideas and skills from different people can light up new paths forward.
It makes the team stronger and brings out fresh solutions to tough problems.
Encouraging everyone to share their knowledge helps too. This way, folks feel important and part of something bigger. It teaches them that their experience matters. And, when challenges pop up, you have a pool of wisdom to dip into.
This unity not only sparks innovation but also keeps everyone pushing ahead together.
Stay Focused on Vision and Values
When times get tough, holding tight to your vision and values guides you through. Stay open to new paths and chances to grow. This mindset keeps teams moving forward, even when the road ahead looks foggy.
Keep reading for more insights on leading with confidence!
Welcome change and disruption
Change and disruption can open doors to new opportunities, sparking creativity and growth. Leading through uncertainty means managers should not only accept change but also see it as a chance to thrive.
It's about turning tough times into a launchpad for innovation and improvement.
Managers who welcome disruption help their teams stay excited and ready for what comes next. They show that being flexible and adaptable is essential in today’s fast-moving world.
This approach keeps everyone focused on the vision, eager to tackle new challenges together.
Staying open to possibilities and opportunities
Embrace new ideas and growth chances. This can lead to better ways of doing things in tough times. By staying open, you create a space where your team feels safe to share their own thoughts and innovations.
This culture of openness can turn challenges into stepping stones for success.
Keeping an eye out for fresh opportunities keeps the team motivated. It shows them that even in uncertainty, there's room to grow and make a significant impact. Encourage your employees to bring new ideas to the table, showing them their contributions are valued and important for the company’s journey through difficult times.
Don't Be Anxious, Act!
In "Don't Be Anxious, Act!", it's all about moving forward without letting fear hold you back. Keep reading and find out how to keep your team on track!
Avoid being overwhelmed by uncertainty
Feeling unsure about what might happen next can be scary. Leaders often face times when things aren't clear. It's easy to feel lost in these moments. Yet, it's possible to move forward without feeling stuck.
The trick lies in focusing on action rather than worrying too much about what could go wrong.
Taking steps and making choices helps keep everyone moving ahead. This approach also shows the team that it's okay not to have all the answers right away. What matters most is staying committed and finding ways through challenges together.
Keeping a positive outlook encourages the whole team and shapes a culture where uncertainty doesn't lead to fear but becomes a part of the journey toward success.
Take action and make decisions
Facing uncertainty, managers must act decisively. Waiting too long can make problems worse. Quick decisions show confidence and lead to faster solutions. This keeps teams moving forward even when things are unclear.
Prioritising Employee Well-Being
Putting your team's health first keeps everyone strong and ready for new challenges. Explore more ideas to keep your team at their best.
Support the team's mental and emotional health
Caring for the team's mental and emotional health is vital. Managers should offer resources for stress management. This includes access to counselling services, wellness programs, and regular check-ins.
Ensuring everyone feels supported makes a big difference in their overall well-being.
Creating a safe space where employees can share their thoughts and feelings matters too. Open talks about challenges can help break down barriers to mental health discussions in the workplace.
Plus, it shows that the company values its people not just for their work but as individuals facing unique struggles and successes every day.
Offer resources and support for stress management
Managers should always have tools ready to help their team manage stress. This includes workshops, mental health days, and access to counselling services. By doing this, employees feel supported and can tackle challenges with a clearer mind.
Leaders can also create a space where talking about stress is okay. Regular check-ins let staff share what’s on their mind without fear. This makes everyone feel part of a caring community that looks out for each other's well-being.
Being Open to Change and Adaptation
Embracing change lets us grow and find new ways to shine. Discover more about keeping your team driven and focused in uncertain times.
Embrace change and be open to new ideas
Managers should always be ready to try new things. This shows the team it's okay to take chances and learn. Being open to change helps a company grow, even in tough times. It turns challenges into chances for making things better.
Leaders need to listen and bring in fresh ideas from everyone. This way, everyone feels part of the change. It keeps employees engaged and boosts creativity. So, always look for ways to improve and welcome new thoughts with an open mind.
Use tough times as an opportunity for growth
Tough times don't have to be all doom and gloom. They can actually be a goldmine for growth and learning. Think about it – when things get hard, we often see what we're made of. It's the perfect chance to flex those problem-solving muscles and become stronger leaders.
By embracing change during these periods, you open up new paths for innovation that were never considered before. This mindset not only benefits you but also inspires your team to tackle challenges head-on.
This approach shifts focus from fearing failure to seeking out development opportunities, even in the face of uncertainty. Leaders who adopt this perspective encourage their teams to step outside their comfort zones, leading to breakthroughs in productivity and creativity.
After all, great inventions and strategies often arise from necessity during tough times – proving that pressure really can turn coal into diamonds.
Encouraging and Empowering Your Team
Help your team to shine by giving them the power and support they need.
Foster a culture of innovation and resilience
Managers can create a strong team by encouraging new ideas and tough spirits. This means letting everyone in the team come up with new ways to solve problems. It also means teaching them to keep going even when things get hard.
By doing this, teams learn to adapt quickly and find creative solutions that keep them ahead.
Trust your team and give them chances to lead projects or tasks. This not only boosts their confidence but also brings fresh perspectives to challenges. A workplace filled with innovative thinkers and resilient doers becomes a place where everyone feels motivated and valued.
Teams like this are ready for anything and often find success no matter what comes their way.
Delegate more responsibility to employees
Giving employees more responsibility is a smart move. It shows you trust them and think they can do more. This can make your team feel important and motivated. They'll work harder, knowing their efforts are seen and valued.
Also, this helps in building leadership skills within the team.
As workers take on new tasks, they learn and grow. They face challenges head-on, becoming stronger in their roles. This growth is good for everyone - the employee, the team, and the company as a whole.
So, handing more duties to staff isn't just about getting more work done; it's about encouraging personal development and showing faith in your people's abilities.
Real-Life Examples from World-Class Leaders
Learn from leaders who've led their teams through thick and thin.. Keep reading to discover their secrets!
Highlight successful leaders who have navigated uncertainty
Leading through uncertainty isn't easy. Great leaders know how to keep their teams focused and motivated even when times are tough. They set examples for their companies, showing how to adapt and thrive. Here's a look at how some top leaders have done just that.
- Satya Nadella at Microsoft made big changes. He shifted the company culture towards innovation and collaboration. His leadership helped Microsoft grow and stay relevant.
- Indra Nooyi, formerly of PepsiCo, focused on the future. She led her team through shifts towards healthier products. This move kept the company up to date with consumer demands.
- Reed Hastings of Netflix always keeps learning. Under his leadership, Netflix moved from mailing DVDs to streaming online. His willingness to change kept the company ahead.
- Mary Barra at General Motors steers towards electric vehicles (EVs). She's leading GM through a huge transformation, aiming to make all their cars electric by 2035.
- Jeff Bezos from Amazon shows bold decision - making pays off. He leads Amazon into new markets regularly, ensuring its growth.
- Howard Schultz brought Starbucks back from the brink by refocusing on customer experience and quality coffee, demonstrating resilience in tough times.
- Anne Mulcahy saved Xerox from bankruptcy by listening to employees' feedback and valuing their input in turning the company around.
- Jack Ma of Alibaba guided his team through rapid online retail growth in China by encouraging innovation and adaptability among his staff.
- Sheryl Sandberg at Facebook champions employee well - being as key for success; she encourages teams within Facebook to support one another personally and professionally.
- Chip Bergh turned Levi Strauss & Co around by focusing on sustainability and brand value; this approach attracted new customers who cared about environmental issues.
These leaders show that with the right approach, companies can navigate uncertain times successfully. They motivate teams, prioritise well-being, embrace change, and never stop moving forward.
Learning from their strategies and approaches
Successful leaders have faced uncertainty head-on. They've shown us powerful ways to lead teams through it. Here's what we can learn from their strategies and approaches:
- Focus on clear communication: Top bosses always make sure everyone knows what's going on. This stops rumours and keeps folks calm.
- Show empathy: Great leaders feel what their team feels. They understand stress and listen, which builds a strong bond.
- Make decisions with confidence: Even when things are unclear, they choose a path and stick to it. This gives the team direction.
- Encourage innovation: They ask for new ideas from everyone. It's a way to find unexpected solutions and keep people engaged.
- Lead by example: These leaders don't just talk; they show how it's done. When they stay positive and active, the team does too.
- Adapt quickly: They know change is certain so they're ready to switch plans fast without losing sight of their goals.
- Prioritise well-being: Happy employees mean a productive team, so they make sure people feel looked after both in and out of work.
- Take calculated risks: Moving forward sometimes means taking chances, but they measure these against potential gains carefully.
- Foster trust through delegation: Handing over responsibility shows trust, which in turn makes employees feel valued and motivated.
- Stay open to learning: The best ones admit when they don’t know something and see every challenge as a chance to grow.
How Can Managers Keep Teams Focused And Motivated - Conclusions
Leaders can guide teams through uncertain times with care and smart moves. Keeping everyone focused and motivated is key. It's about listening, setting clear goals, and building trust.
Embracing change brings growth. In the end, remember to look after the team's health and well-being. This approach helps everyone stay strong together.
How Can Managers Keep Teams Focused And Motivated - FAQs
1. What does it mean to lead through uncertainty?
Leading through uncertainty means guiding your team with confidence, even when things are unclear. Managers focus on keeping teams motivated and on-track, despite not knowing what might happen next.
2. How can managers make sure employees stay motivated?
Managers can keep employees feeling motivated by listening to their feedback and caring about the team's well-being. It’s critical to understand what drives each person and help them see the importance of their work.
3. What style should managers adopt in uncertain times?
In such times, transformational leadership works best. This style is all about being people-focused, setting clear expectations, and inspiring your team to achieve more than they thought possible.
4. Is money the only way to motivate new staff during tough times?
No, it's not just about money! Recognising achievements, providing meaningful feedback, and creating a supportive environment are powerful ways to motivate new staff—and they don’t cost a thing.
5. Why is employee feedback so important for leaders now?
Feedback helps leaders understand how their teams are coping with changes and challenges. It’s a key point that allows managers to adjust their approach and ensure everyone feels supported and valued.
6. How do transformational leaders maintain their team's focus and motivation in uncertain times?
Transformational leaders excel in navigating uncertainty by developing a leadership style that is both adaptive and inspiring. This approach is considered an ultimate guide for those aiming to lead effectively through unpredictable challenges. By emphasising personal growth and innovation, transformational leaders encourage their teams to work hard and embrace change as an opportunity for development. This leadership style contrasts with laissez-faire attitudes by actively engaging with team members, offering guidance, and fostering an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best. The benefits of such a proactive and supportive approach include increased team resilience and a stronger collective ability to tackle uncertainty head-on. By focusing on the development of their teams and themselves, transformational leaders ensure that everyone is aligned, motivated, and ready to work hard towards common goals, regardless of the obstacles that may arise.
7. Is a laissez-faire leadership style beneficial for teams facing uncertainty?
A laissez-faire leadership style, characterised by a hands-off leadership approach to how to be a leader, presents both challenges and opportunities for team development and motivation during uncertain times. While this style encourages autonomy and self-direction, which can lead to creative solutions and innovations, it may also result in a lack of clear direction and support when navigating the complexities of uncertainty. The ultimate guide for leveraging the benefits of a laissez-faire approach in such contexts involves striking a balance. Leaders should work hard to cultivate an environment where team members feel confident to take initiative and develop their skills, while also ensuring that they are not left without guidance or resources. Transformational leaders can complement a laissez-faire strategy by periodically stepping in to inspire and motivate their team, encouraging them to work hard and realise the benefits of their efforts. This balanced approach can help teams remain focused and motivated, enabling them to thrive even in the face of uncertainty.
