I Wonder . . .Why is My Staff Morale so Low?

Why is morale so low?

Do you disapprove any request for leave that provides you less that two weeks notice?

Do you expect your support people to "read your mind" in regards to work expectations?

Do you look past behaviors because addressing them is a bit "uncomfortable" for you?

Do you still wonder why morale is low?

Do you take pride in having the most money unused in your award budget each quarter?

Do you wait until staff are on the verge of breakdown before you to fill a vacant position?

Do you play favorites?

Do you let your subordinate supervisors address discipline their way – or yours?!

Are your performance reviews consistently late?

Do you still wonder why morale is low?

Do you engage in shouting matches with you staff?

Do you see or measure each action or non-action as a sign of disrespect or disloyalty?

Do you take this stuff personally?!

Do you micromanage?

Do you hold back information because members of your staff just "don’t need to know?"

Do you create blanket policies to stop the bad while harming the good?

Do you still wonder why morale is low?

Do you counsel staff over e-mail?

Are employees guilty before proven innocent?

Do you believe that employees come to work to get over on you or the system and that it is your job to ensure that it does not happen?

You wonder why morale is low yet it is no wonder to me at all.

Teachers as Leaders - Leaders as Teachers

Building on a recent post on G-Town Talks, I ‘d like to share my best teacher story. Is there any doubt in your mind, after reading this, whether or not this teacher is a leader? Leaders of all professions can learn something from both the G-Town post and my experience below.

Our daughter started kindergarten this year and in November, my husband and I went to our very first parent-teacher conference. The notice reminded us that the child could come along so off we all went to school. We stopped at the media center to buy some books for the kid to keep her entertained during the conference; we were prepared for the teacher to ask her to sit quietly while he talks to mom and dad.

Is that what happened? No, not even close. Our daughter was asked to sit at the table and only then were mom and dad were asked to join her. The teacher spoke directly to our daughter about the progress she has made and all the things that she is doing well. He spoke to her, and only to her.  At one point, when she could not take the attention anymore, she began to fidget and actually fell off of her chair! He ended by telling her that he wants her to continue to learn and that if anything, anything at all, is bothering her during the day, that she should come talk to him about it. Only after he shared all that he wanted to share with her, did he ask if mom and dad had any questions for him.

Questions? I was speechless - this was not what I expected at all . Now, after the experience, I wonder how I could have expected anything less.