Morale is the greatest single factor in successful wars. Dwight D. Eisenhower
Each of us is blessed with the spirit of adventure and daring but that can be triggered only when our morale is high and the inner drive beckons us to commit ourselves fully and completely to the task on hand. This is particularly true when team effort holds the key to the successful execution of a task or mission. A person’s morale is determined by the intrinsic motivation within, the deep desire to achieve and the awakening of the restless soul that thirsts for action and adventure. When morale is high, there is no looking back or backtracking for it is the goal alone that drives a person to pursue his/ her chosen path.
Good leadership plays a vital part in infusing morale. By reinforcing positive thoughts, infusing sufficient motivation and by setting high standards of excellence a good leader sets the tone for the team to forge ahead with fearless enthusiasm. Morale is contagious in as much as it uplifts the mood and the commitment to exceptional levels but it is equally true that low morale works in exactly the same manner but in the opposite direction. It is not easy to keep the morale high and constant simply because people have mood swings, different thought process and setbacks in any form quickly dampen enthusiasm. All victories big or small need to be kept in focus for morale to grow and sustain.
To keep individual morale high what is essential is self belief. The belief that one has the ability, the knowledge and the resources to tackle any problem, gives one the strength to take on challenging tasks. If self belief is in place, then it automatically attracts positive thoughts, produces the desired motivation within and fires up our courage to face any battle. Morale helps one to take setbacks in our strides, see failure as an opportunity to prove one’s mettle and stimulates us to relish the sweet taste of success. Low morale has equally damaging negative effects with added problems of having to tackle fear, loss of confidence and a negative mind set.
Fostering a sense of camaraderie, being a good listener and being supportive are the key roles played by leaders to ensure that the morale never wanes. Team activities, bonding games and open communications are some of the proactive ways to build morale. Genuine praise and appreciation, showing concern for the people and leading from the front are qualities much appreciated by the subordinates and which lead to the morale graph going higher and higher. Morale peaks when people perceive fair play, recognize transparency in interaction and have a sense of purpose. High morale uplifts, inspires and commits people to be wedded to their cause without question and with absolute faith and trust.
Remember: “Morale is the state of mind. It is steadfastness and courage and hope. It is confidence and zeal and loyalty. It is elan, esprit de corps and determination.” General George Catlett Marshall
Try this:
- Make it a point to closely observe the actions, reactions, behavior, temperament and interactions between team members of teams who are winning and those that are losing a match.
- Examine your own style of keeping your morale high especially after you suffer a setback. How do you react when your morale is low? Do you sulk, play blame games, throw tantrums, have uncontrollable rage?
This post is courtesy www.actspot.com
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