How to Manage Team Emotions for Improved Performance

Psychological Safety is the secret to high-performing teams Ever wondered why some teams seem to effortlessly excel, while others constantly struggle? The answer might surprise you: it all comes down to psychological safety. Psychological safety is the magic ingredient that unlocks a team's true potential. When team members feel safe to speak up, challenge ideas, and take calculated risks, innovation thrives. What does it look like in action? Imagine a team where: - Ideas are openly shared, even if they're half-baked. - Honest mistakes are seen as learning opportunities, not reasons for blame. - Healthy debate is encouraged, leading to better solutions. In Google's Project Aristotle, we also found that Psychological Safety was a key factor in teams that were rated the most effective: https://lnkd.in/gmAMp_JS This great cheat sheet by Ronnie H. unveils two powerful tools: 1. Amy Edmondson's Matrix: This simple framework shows how the sweet spot of high performance lies at the intersection of psychological safety and clear standards. 2. 9 Actionable Tips for Leaders: These are battle-tested strategies used to cultivate psychological safety in teams. Here are some of these tips, with my personal insights: 1. Build Trust: Be transparent, keep promises, and follow through on commitments. My Tip: Share your own vulnerabilities and struggles. It shows you're human and encourages others to do the same. 2. Don't Blame: Focus on solutions, not fault. My Tip: Use "we" language to create a sense of shared responsibility. 3. Listen Actively: Pay attention not just to words, but also body language and emotions. My Tip: Ask clarifying questions and paraphrase to ensure understanding. 4. Normalize Failure: Mistakes are inevitable; view them as stepping stones to growth. My Tip: Celebrate learning moments and share stories of overcoming challenges. 5. Give Everyone a Voice: Encourage participation from all team members, not just the loudest voices. My Tip: Utilize anonymous surveys or suggestion boxes to gather ideas from introverts. Psychological safety is a necessity. Insist on it and watch your team transform. Download the cheat sheet and start building a safe space for your team to thrive! P.S. Repost to spread the word and make work a better place for everyone. ♻️ Follow Ronnie H. Kinsey, MBA, for more leadership insights like this. #motivation #productivity #leadership

I’ve led hundreds of people in the last 13 years and the biggest lesson I learned about leadership: The best leaders lead with empathy. 5 bullet-proof ways to become a more empathetic leader: 𝟭. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝗽 '𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀' 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 Do you really know your employees? Carve out 30-60 minutes each week for them to share concerns, ideas, or personal matters. No agendas. No judgment. No pressure. Face time and open communication build trust - the glue that holds teams together during difficult times. Trust and belonging drive the extra mile, not obligation. 𝟮. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 Offer retreats for self-reflection and relationship building. Loyalty and motivation come from emotion and meaning, not corporate wellness jargon. Get outdoors and play. Connect with one another. A sense of togetherness is rocket fuel for your company. Oh, and it’s also a lot of fun. 𝟯. 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲-𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 We always hear about the importance of mentorship. But how open are you to learning from a junior? Match leaders with junior employees for regular check-ins. Ask them for their ideas, and give them the license to offer solutions and create. Sometimes, fresh perspectives are just what you need to turbocharge your growth. Don’t just tick the box. The future of your business lies in the front lines. 𝟰. 𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸-𝗜𝗻𝘀 Start meetings by quickly sharing recent life events, feelings, or personal goals. Listening lifts morale in minutes. See who they are beyond the role. Your employees aren’t robots. Understanding their motivations and emotions will take your culture to the next level. At the end of the day, we’re all people with lives and dreams outside of work. 𝟱. 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 Highlight people’s contributions beyond hitting their monthly sales targets or milestones. Show you care beyond a line item. Recognition makes contributions tangible. Send those firmwide emails, shout out your culture carriers, and plant those golden seeds of motivation. A little appreciation goes a long way. If you want to learn about AI, Agency growth, leadership and more, follow me so you never miss a post!

In recent months, I've been closely working with a team experiencing a common challenge – a blame culture fueled by uncertainty and fear of layoffs. This environment leads to isolation, finger-pointing, and a stifling of collaboration. While logic can help address the counterproductive nature of such behaviors, the truth is, emotions they are experiencing are facts too. You might even say, while logic speaks volumes, emotions echo even louder. A team coach instead of simply telling team members how to change, needs to help them connect the dots and build emotional intelligence. Step 1 - Identifying and Accepting Emotions: -Tuning in by creating a safe space for team members to acknowledge their feelings. What anxieties are lurking beneath the surface? -Putting a name to our emotions helps us understand and manage them. Are we feeling frustrated, scared, or overwhelmed? -Taking advantage of normalization. It's important to recognize that these emotions are normal responses to an uncertain situation. Step 2 - From Blame to Courage Once the emotions are acknowledged, a team can move forward and reframe them. One team member recently pointed out that ‘this anxiety hasn't stopped us yet’. This highlights an underlying strength of resilience. Can the team channel this emotional energy into courage? Courage to communicate openly, collaborate effectively, and support one another? Remember, a team that works together, thrives together. Such a cliché, but whenever I think about aspiring human achievements, they were the result of team effort. As a team coach I can help teams I support by staying longer in uncomfortable, so they can see the hidden energy of it. #siliconvalleycoach #teamcoaching #teamcoach