97 Things Every Project Manager Should Know

Chapter 83. Recognize the Value of Team Morale

David Bock

MORALE IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU KNOW YOU NEED, but it is hard to grow and measure. A team with high morale will occasionally put in extra effort cheerfully, but a team with low morale will not. High morale isn't just about a better workplace, it is about a more productive team.

A few years ago, I worked with a team that exhibited high morale. At times, the office felt more like a community of friends than a workplace. Productivity was high. We would occasionally have crises that required a little extra "push," and team members would volunteer for that extra effort.

A few years later, I saw that same team at an ice cream social at the office, and it didn't appear happy. The team members weren't socializing, and their body language seemed cold. When I approached them, they were complaining that there were only "chocolate Jimmies, not colored sprinkles" as a topping for the ice cream. Think about that transition: same team, same project, much different morale. It went from cheerfully working overtime, when needed, to complaining about free ice cream.

How did this happen? The team had a new manager who made some bad decisions. His errors led the team down a false path and created more work for it. Senior management blamed the entire team. And when the manager took no responsibility, the team lost confidence. The project became "more ...