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I wanted to share this with you today. I think it is important for people to be grateful for what they have rather than focusing on what they do not have. People should be appreciative and happy. Let us focus on what is positive in our lives.

We all know that misery loves company, especially in the workplace. When one person is unhappy about a situation or another person, it’s easy for others to join in on the complaints.

When leaders are faced with low employee morale, their job is to hold their team members accountable by teaching the team members to be grateful before they can be successful and happy even if they are not necessarily content.

A person must be grateful before they can be successful
Everybody can be grateful for what they have, but more often than not we forget to think about the good. For example, a gentleman is upset and feels he is not treated fairly because, due to company financial struggles, he loses his company car and his work load is increased to make up for those who were laid off.  In the same city, a man and woman need to figure out where they are going to live because they just had to close their small business, file bankruptcy and can’t pay their bills. It is all about perspective. 

 To improve morale the leader must change the team member’s perspective. This is not a cold or insensitive approach, it is an empathetic approach that says the feelings the person is feeling are real, but may not be necessary, helpful or have a purpose. The leader’s job is to give the team member hope and understanding, not sympathy. 

When a team member complains about work load increase because of others being laid off or people leaving the company, the leader should discuss how the individual now has the opportunity to step up even more than before. The leader should challenge the person to own the job—not in a cheesy, “you can do it” cheer, but in a real tone, that says this is what it will take from the team and each person has to decide if they are committed and willing.  

Difficult times do not cause bad morale,  the lack of gratefulness does.  Leaders need to take a look at their team and their situation and know they are the only ones who can change it. By taking on this positive attitude, the individuals win and the company can win again, which will come right back to the individuals in the long run. 

Source:  Nathan Jamail, best-selling author of The Playbook Series, is also a motivational speaker, entrepreneur and corporate coach. As a former executive for Fortune 500 companies, and owner of several small businesses, Jamail travels the country helping individuals and organizations achieve maximum success