Newsletter: How to keep employees keen when you're not + New IR laws

For many managers, struggling to keep staff motivated while fighting your own anxieties about the future is a new experience.

Here are some suggestions to help you through:

1. Keep it real

Keep it real for yourself by objectively analysing your current business position. Don't be tempted to overemphasise the down side because of all the media doom and gloom.

Your staff observe you more closely than you realise. They know your industry, your clients and see the news. Little will be gained by pretending things are better (or worse) than they are. At best, staff still won't know where they stand. At worst, you'll appear misguided.

Instead, let them know the current (and likely future) status of your business, with as much detail as you are comfortable sharing.

2. Keep communicating

In this environment, things change quickly. It can take some time and effort to keep your team up to speed. The best way is through regular, brief, scheduled meetings where you bring staff up to date and they can report to you how they see things. Ask your team for their input and suggestions, allow for questions and listen to their concerns.

No one person has all the answers - make it easy for your team to give you theirs and engage with the future of your business. You'll be rewarded with greater 'ownership' of both good and bad things that happen.

3. Keep caring

This degree of economic uncertainty is a new experience for many staff. Generation Y, in particular, may be feeling disproportionately anxious, especially as they see their friends losing their jobs. If you can reassure and encourage these employees, you will continue to benefit from their skills, fresh ideas and energy.

Back in 1936, Dale Carnegie (1888-1955) wrote "Be hearty in your approbation and generous in your praise." This remains one of the best pieces of advice for people managers. While we may not have the physical resources to provide huge incentives and rewards, it costs nothing to genuinely recognise and appreciate those around us. The immediate returns will help sustain you and your business.

Tip: Read more about motivating staff in our free articles.

Actions:
1. Take a reality check. Have you become caught up in the doom and gloom without taking an objective look at how you are really affected?

2. Schedule a weekly meeting to update staff and hear what they have to say. If you feel uncomfortable at first, you could use our experience at planning and facilitating meetings.

3. Take good care of yourself. This includes finding someone you can talk to, outside your business, to debrief your business challenges. We can help.