We can gauge morale by assessing their willingness to open up. The more problems they feel comfortable sharing with us, the stronger their morale is towards us.  By seeking to understand their problems, we are demonstrating to our team members that we care about them. 

 Team members are more likely to open up and talk about their problems after rapport has been built with the manager. This rapport is built on the principles of understanding relationships. Specifically, the more one-on-one time, the stronger the relationship will be. During these one-on-ones, we should give them our undivided attention and look to genuinely listen more than we talk. We can encourage them to speak more by asking follow up questions, rephrasing and qualifying their statements, and showcasing the appropriate body language. We will dive deeper into each of these tactics in future episodes. By doing more listening, we are reinforcing the notion that their words and opinions matter. 

Then, when we demonstrate that we care about them as an individual, they will begin to open up about their problems, whether work or non-work related. 

About

Morale is the drive, the spirit that other individuals have to support our goals. With high morale, all objectives requiring multiple individuals will become streamlined. With low morale, these same objectives will continue to struggle obstacle after obstacle. Having a Morale Mindset means placing morale as a key factor in our decision making so that we can optimize for stronger results through improving individual performance. In the podcast, "Morale Mindset", we discuss ways to elevate morale in the people around us, through actual stories and tactical solutions.

Hosted by David Huynh | Executive Coach | Writer | Stanford University B.S., M.S. | Twitter: @moralemindset | Instagram: @moralemindset | moralemindset.substack.com | medium.com/@moralemindset | [email protected]  | moralemindset.com