When morale is low and organizational dysfunction is high, your team needs more than encouragement—they need protection. As a leader, your job is to buffer them from organizational chaos. Here’s how.
Set clear standards. Don’t passively inherit the culture around you. Instead, co-create a team identity based on shared values. Define how you’ll treat each other, solve problems, and work with others. This gives people a sense of control and direction when everything else feels uncertain.
Reinforce new norms. Culture sticks through repetition. Celebrate team behaviors that align with your vision, and share success stories that show what “good” looks like. Make change feel doable, not abstract.
Model the behavior. Your team is watching how you act under pressure. Show, don’t just tell, what good leadership looks like—especially when stakes are high or feedback is needed.
Filter the noise. Take the hits so your team doesn’t have to. Absorb unnecessary drama, reframe what matters, and focus everyone on what they can control.
Stay close. Hold one-on-ones to understand frustrations, goals, and reasons to stay. People won’t stick around for the company—but they might stay for you. |
