Karen,
I have an incredible staff. They are bright, ethical, and hard working. My biggest challenge is to keep the excitement up and the momentum rolling. Can you give me some ideas?
Amy, PA
Amy,
It sounds like you are already doing a great job!
The best way to keep the excitement up is to periodically do the unexpected. For example, on a hot summer day, pop out and purchase a couple containers of water ice or ice cream from your local retailer. Then invite everyone to take a break and enjoy it together before it melts.
What is important with this approach, and what makes it challenging to maintain, is that you need to be erratic and unexpected with what you do. This means doing something different each time (though it’s okay to repeat eventually.) It also means not being predictable about when it could happen. If you do something today, perhaps next time is in 2 months. The time after might be 10 days later. And the next event might be in 45 days. The combination of unpredictability in both timing and what will happen next creates anticipation and excitement.
To get more productivity, or momentum, along with excitement try linking some of these unexpected events with meeting a goal. For example, if you have a sales goal for the next quarter, you could let your team know in advance that if they make the goal they will have a beach party in the office.
As you read this you may be saying, “This would never work in my office because…” Great! I’m not suggesting that you do exactly what I have written. I am simply providing examples that will hopefully help you to come up with ideas that will work with your team.
Just remember that variety is the spice of life. And the craziest ideas are sometimes the ones that generate the most excitement. One of the craziest ideas of all may be to ask your employees what they would like to do. Perhaps even take an individual or two aside, give them a small budget, and ask them to plan the surprise.
One final caveat. Please remember that the behaviors that you reward are the ones that will be repeated. For example, if you are trying to create a team environment, stay away from things that celebrate the achievement of just one person.
I’d love to hear the things you, my readers, have done to create excitement and momentum. And if many of you share, you may get some fresh ideas. Just visit our Facebook page and leave a post today.
Good luck!
Karen
