Morale in the group.

[klimbinfool]

Having the oportunity of being involved with leadership and development for ten years, I was always told that poor morale in a group was just a symptom of the problem and that it always started from higher up or from a issue that was never resolved.

We all work in groups at one time or another and as a owner operater or crew leader, having poor morale is never good for working conditions.Those of you who have encountered or have this problem on a consistant basis, how do you deal with it ? Do you nip it in the bud right away ? or do you wait untill it blows up and then you have a really big problem .

Thanks
Greg
Flippin sixteens

 

[Nathan]

I make a big point to let everyone I work with know they are appreciated and that ALL jobs are important. Clean up is just as important as climbing. Both need to be done properly to collect a check. That is me...

My other bosses have always used the "beatings will continue until morale improves" theory.

Negative energy breeds and spreads exponentially in a crew. Keep it out!!

 

[BUK]

Try to nip it in the bud right away! I've been with a couple different companies that had morale problems right from the first day I showed up. All it did was drag me down into it and I ended up leaving before anything was even resolved. Poor morale costs time, people, and productivity.
I firmly believe in your statement that poor morale arises from higher up or unresolved issues. Sometimes the only answer is to remove the cancer creating the problem and deal with the consequences as they happen. Short term loss for long term gain.
Good Luck.

Dave

 

[chad]

the crew i work with is very complimentary. if a guy runs a rope well, or if a climber works out to a difficult branch, or a good felling cut, we say good job. things like that go a long way.if something goes work or could have been done in a more efficient or safer way we discuss the issue and try to improve. we are not only interested in improving our skills but the skills of those around us. i searched high and low through many companies to find a good team like this. but those small compliments add up and make a difference

 

[Treebeard]

i think there are so many variables in a companies morale. having a production crew work well together on the job site is the tip of the iceberg. i have noticed through the years that the relationship between crew and management/owner/sales is really important. the more the crew wants to work for company the better the morale. that goes for big or small outfits. i know i am happiest working for the company when the company is happy i work for them. next factor is everyone on the team wants to be there. the one or two guys/gals that show dislike to either their position or company can spread resentment fast. making the job fun, exciting, and rewarding are jobs people want to be. some examples i have seen are spontaneous acts of appreciation---anything--thanks, end of week parties, 1/2 paid friday----then also staying to finish job, making sure the saw is filed and ready, a thank you for the work. it is a 2 way street.

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

Having worked for a couple of large companies and being a foreman for 18 years I've been on both sides of receiving and delivering bad moral. It's a cause and effect sort of thing.

Consider blanket rules. In 1982 the Davey company told me, after informing them they under tooled the crews in Ft. Bragg , "Gerald, your crew can operate effectively with the same tools, rigging and methods as the crews in Kent, Ohio."

Now, Ft. Bragg and the trees we have here isn't quite Kent, Ohio. There's a big geographic difference. The companies response to my inquiry about the tooling they supplied us with cause some immediate desention from the ranks. It was at the time when the Davey company took over the line clearing contract in Ft. Bragg.

It certainly wasn't a good "foot in the door" way to start working for a large company I'll tell you. And the moral between the crews and company went down from the very start. Nipping it in the bud? With the orders coming from 2000 miles away! The in-betweens were strictly company men and said, "like it or lump it" Absolutly no feed between craft and management. Hmmmm.......

I liked line clearance trimming and probably would have stuck with it, but working for the Davey Company in Ft. Bragg proved it couldn't satisfy me to do it for them, as a living. I don't know how I worked for them for 6 years.