Boost
Morale for Big Job Success
by
Leonard Toenjes
Q: I am
a long-time project manager and sometimes I have to push my crew to meet a deadline.
Morale can sometimes go down, but I like to keep up morale because people work
harder when they are happy. What are some good methods to keep morale high while
trying to meet a demanding deadline?
A: One of the key words in your
question is "sometimes."
In every profession, there are times
when the crews must be pushed to the limit, but there should also be times when
they are not pushed to the limit.
The tax preparation field is a prime
example. I know of no certified public accounting firm that allows for anyone
to even dream of time off during the end of March or first part of April.
People
understand the ebb and flow of life and a job, but some steps you take can help
build a stronger crew and make the extra work of meeting a demanding deadline
less onerous.
Maintaining Morale When
crew members are going to be pushed to meet a deadline, complete information up
front is critical to keeping morale up. Clearly and completely let everyone on
the crew know what the goals are, when the deadline is, what the workload will
be, how long the extra effort will be required, what the potential penalties or
downsides are for not meeting the deadline and what the rewards are for meeting
the deadline.
If changes occur in any of these elements, keep the crew
informed. Surprises are not good in this environment to keep morale high.
A
perception of fairness is certainly another key to positive morale. As long as
workers have a sense that everyone is being pushed equally and contributing together,
an esprit de corps can emerge that helps the entire team work together. Equality
of effort is important for the project manager to maintain.
If some crew
members are being pushed while others are not contributing their fair share, morale
will sag and criticism of the project manager's inequity will arise.
Project
managers should keep their ear to the ground for any such feelings or comments
of divisiveness within the team and deal with them immediately. They can be addressed
through analysis of the efforts (or lack thereof) from each crew member, rebalancing
of duties (if necessary) and direct conversations about the work of each crew
member.
Finally, deliver on a reward when the deadline is met. Incentives
of some type at the end of a tough grind can build your credibility, increase
the trust the crew has in you, and help galvanize the team for the next time a
demanding deadline occurs.
Make it a jobsite luncheon, gift certificates
for new tools or work boots or for a restaurant where the crew can take their
family members. Show those who gave the extra effort that you appreciate that
effort.
Make the reward immediate. Don't wait until the end of the year.
Tie any extra incentive as directly as possible to the project to show your appreciation
for specific behavior.A perception of fairness is another key to positive
morale.
Do you have questions on construction
human resources or safety? E-mail them to Leonard Toenjes at ltoenjes@agcstl.org
or craig_barner@mcgraw-hill.com.
If Len picks your question, he will answer it in a future issue of Midwest
Construction.) | 
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