So far the 2020s has been a decade that will feature heavily in the history books of mankind we have no doubt.
The truth about the climate crisis.
A global pandemic.
Political drama left, right and centre.
A war that threatens the daily lives of us all.
Cost of living crisis.
And now the death of our beloved and longest serving monarch.
Heavy doesn’t quite cut the mustard and if your staff are feeling a bit, well….. meh, it’s not too much of a surprise really is it.
But as a hiring manager, it’s part of your (never ending) job description to help keep morale high. A workforce with a positive mindset is a productive one, it’s a happy one, it’s a profitable one and when it comes to bringing new talent in, acts like a magnet to up and coming accountants.
Today we wanted to share one idea as to how you can create a focused and motivated workplace and draw a line under the period of mourning that has naturally been affecting the mood of those you employ.
Create a new, shared goal.
That’s it – it’s really quite simple and you can interpret this piece of leadership advice in any which way that suits your firm and its values and objectives, but our key tips for rolling out your new goal are as follows.
Plan it. Take the time to consider what kind of shared goal will work for you. As an example let’s say that you decide to create a new service offering. Make sure that the incentive for your goal isn’t purely profit. Your staff won’t buy into that. Make sure your new goal involves something to tempt them in too and in the planning make sure that that incentive for your staff if hooked into every aspect of it.
So, if you wanted your goal to link in to your profit then make sure your staff have some kind of payout too. A bonus, an extra day off, a trip away as a team.
If you want your goal to have more of a charitable focus that can work too. Or perhaps you can tap into some kind of community or environmental project – give your staff a goal that together they can be proud of.
Present It. Think about how you communicate your new goal/project. Be honest about the fact that you want to bring everyone together and focus on a feeling of collective challenge. Be honest and you’ll get their buy in.
Allow your staff to own it. Delegate parts of the project and give your staff the autonomy to develop it amongst themselves. The opportunity to creatively brainstorm will allow them to use a part of their brains that often gets neglected during times of stress and problem solving.
Find ways to be proud of your goal/project. Think press, social media – shout from the rooftops about this new and exciting piece of work and let it breathe fresh air into your business’ profile and the professional lives of those who work for you. Make your posts sharable and get your staff to spread the news too!
Maintain the momentum. If you find that your shared goal or project is having the desired affect and is improving morale and mindset amongst your workforce, reflect on why that might be and maintain the momentum of what’s working.
Showcase your firm’s mindset to potential employees. Once your workforce is feeling focused and positive, make sure you give them opportunities to showcase that to potential new talent. Use case studies on social media to show off your staff happiness and the goals they all share. Allow potential new recruits to visit the office informally to learn about the great work you’ve been doing.
We really hope you find this article hits your desk at a time when you’re wondering how on earth you can help your staff recover from a trying period of time. If you have any successes we’d be absolutely delighted to help you share them! Do get in touch with us at info@publicpracticerecruitment.co.uk
And don’t forget that we’re always here to help with all of your recruitment needs. You can trust our niche experience to get the job done and we always treat our clients the way we would want to be treated ourselves.
Find out more about our core values and contact us here.
