Tips for restoring team morale

Last night’s Super Bowl was a complete blowout – the Seattle Seahawks utterly crushed the Denver Broncos in one of the biggest routs in the history of the Big Game. Regardless of which team you were rooting for, there’s no denying the fact that the Broncos went home to Denver totally and utterly crushed.

Yikes.

The fact is, in sports as well as business, you are going to face setbacks and loss. It’s a given. How you handle that loss, however, is really what’s going to make the key difference in your recovery, so that you can bounce back to best your competition the next time.

Here are 4 useful tips for boosting your team’s morale after suffering a devastating loss:

1. 1.   Stay focused on the positive – While understandably overshadowed by the loss of the game, loss of the client, loss of the key colleague etc., there are always bright spots to focus on as well. What were those glimmering moments before, during or after the loss in which things DID work well, where people came together and worked in exemplary fashion?

1. 2.   Publicly recognize individuals & accomplishments – As the team leader, a critical step in restoring morale and confidence to your traumatized team is to let them know you still strongly believe in them – highlight the ways in which people went above and beyond, and let them know how much you appreciate and value their efforts in spite of the loss.

1. 3.   Lay out clear goals & objectives for the future – After suffering a debilitating loss of any kind, what teams want to know most is: what now? Give them a clear vision of what the next round will look like, by identifying specific goals and objectives to strive for in the days, weeks and months ahead. People want to know that you, the boss, have the situation well at hand, and have a firm understanding of what needs to be done – they’ll appreciate it.

1. 4.   Give them a strong boost – Whenever a loss occurs, be it to an individual or a team, it’s important to give a jolt to the system indented to re-energize and re-motivate. You know this from your own lives, I’m sure, as do I – food works exceptionally well here, as does an uplifting pep talk, or fun team building activity. Anything to get them back on their feet.

I have no doubt that the Broncos will start next season feeling refreshed and re-energized; the same can happen for you and your team after suffering a crushing loss.