In the current climate of business, which of course affects everything else, there is a great deal of uncertainty.   We hear about the horror stories every day.  People losing there jobs, businesses going under, etc.  It is interesting that everything isn’t failing but you would never know if you left it to the media.   Of course, that is a whole other story.

When people are uncertain you will never get a 100% effort,  This is especially true when it comes to team.  Uncertainty is driven by fear and that triggers our survival mechanism.  This insures that most of the attention will be on me, the individual.  So what does the leader do to keep the team together?

First of all,  make sure the team is up to date on everything.  They need to know the bad stuff along with any good.  People actually are very good when they know what they have to deal with.  They are horrible when they don’t know.  The mind starts it’s mischief.  Worst case scenarios are the order of the day.  Separations occur on the team when the the thing most needed is unity.

So what does the leader, Head Coach, CEO, etc. do?  First of all, as I have said, give them the straight scoop.  Second, the leader needs to be visible.  More  interactions with team members to check on their well-being.  Not so much business talk and more personal conversations.  Get to know more about them.  Be interested in them.

The players greatest fear is that the coach will give up on them.  They think the coach only likes them when they are performing well.  If that is the way you are give it up.  You will never have the Championship Team you need.

Communications need to be made with more frequency.  In person is about 100 times more effective than email.  The telephone is a better than email.  In-person is by far the best.

The organization with the best team is going to win.  Now is the best time ever to build your team.  If you can get it done in these times you will knock them dead when the climate changes which it will.  Inclusion, everybody makes it and there is only one winner i.e.,  the organization, team, project,  are themes for success in the toughest of times.

They need your strength.  Even when you don’t feel that strong.  You only need two things to succeed.  A championship team is one.  The other is to be willing to create a possibility for what’s next that isn’t limited by your circumstances.  The past will not get you where you want to go.  Give yourself a future to live into.