February Newsletter: Leadership Special, Keeping Teams Motivated during the winter blues.

Leadership Special

In our first section of this months newsletter, we wanted to share with you some ideas that you can take on board to help you improve upon your leadership. From certain techniques you can implement to new skills you can equip yourself with to get the best out of your team! We hope that these ideas can help strengthen your leadership qualities even further!

Leadership Questions

Do you feel like you are struggling to get the most out of your team? Are you asking the right questions? Below we have included a list of eight questions that you can ask your team to improve upon your leadership skills!

Team Dynamics and Collaboration

What’s one thing we could do differently as a team to work more effectively together?

Are there any obstacles you’re facing that I can help remove?

How do you feel about the way we communicate as a team? What could improve?

Feedback and Growth

What feedback do you have for me as your leader? How can I better support you?

Is there any training, skill development, or resource you feel would help you in your role?

Vision and Alignment

Do you feel connected to the overall goals and vision of the team or organisation?

Are there any aspects of our mission or strategy that feel unclear to you?

Innovation and Ideas

What’s one idea or improvement you’ve been thinking about that we haven’t explored yet?

LEADERSHIP TECHNIQUES

Great leaders don’t just direct. They inspire, listen, and empower others to grow. Here are three further techniques that you can implement to improve your leadership strategy…

It may sound obvious but truly hear what your team has to say. Do not interrupt, listen and take everything in and reflect back to show your understanding. This can show that your team feels valued and that their voice matters.

If you haven’t already, Foster a growth mindset. Celebrate your team's progress, recognise their improvements and not just their results. Encourage learning opportunities, promoting things like development opportunities can show that you are looking out for your team and want them to be ambitious.

And finally, lead by example. Demonstrate traits like integrity, align your actions with your values. Show consistency with things like your work ethic so your team can always feel like they can look up to you.

Winter Blues: How to keep your employees motivated

February can be a tough month for many people. The days are still short, the weather is cold, and the excitement of the holidays has faded. The winter blues have well and truly begun with many now having a lack of focus within the workplace and also a lack of productivity. By recognising the signs and taking steps to support your team, organisations can help employees feel better and stay on track during this challenging time. But how? In this section we will discuss methods that you can use to keep your employees motivated.

One way you can motivate your team is by encouraging physical activities. conducting out of work challenges such as friendly fitness challenges can be a great way to encourage daily exercise and new ways to keep motivated!

Create a warm and inviting workplace. You can do this by adding plants in the office, warm colourful decorations and even lighting. The way your office can differentiate between the outside world during the cold and dark period can make a big difference.

Acknowledging individual achievements and celebrating them with the rest of the team. This fuels motivation no matter how big or small they are. Everybody wants to be recognised for their great contributions!

Share your employees with mental heath guides and programmes during this period can go a long way and it also shows a level of thought and care for you team! Checking in with them regularly can also be a great thing to do.