My company has won an award. What is the best way to capitalise on this and send good news down the chain?
Great news. A few Head Office types have had a night out at a swanky hotel, have had their photos taken by the trade press and enhanced their CVs a bit - so what’s to celebrate?

While your business objective is not to win awards, used well they can be a potent message and a powerful cause for celebration. Surely the critical element is that your business is very much a team game and it is the excellence of the team that has attracted this award.

So recognise this and flaunt the news externally. Reflect on how cup-winning football teams celebrate: a lap of honour, a video, a silver cup in reception. Go further. Link key good behaviours to your victory, and similarly key good team behaviours.

Frankly the idea of sending an email “down the chain” (what an unattractive expression) really doesn’t cut it. Communication is a loop. It’s a bit of a surprise to me that you won at all.

I’m sure my team would be more productive if only they were more cheerful. How can I make them happier?
I think you’re right in your assertion that unhappy colleagues perform below par. Indeed some academic research suggests they are perhaps only half as productive.

What is far worse is that being unhappy is a contagious disease that produces higher numbers of people on sick leave. Dangerously, it may infect your ability to recruit top-class talent.

Action is constantly needed. Make a conscious effort tomorrow to say hello in a cheery voice to everyone you bump into. I remember when running my bakery that no matter how busy my day looked, the tour around the floor saying good morning was appreciated and I learned so much about the morale of my workforce.

Double the amount of interest you express to all of your team, to even the more junior partners. Celebrate successes and make sure you have room for frequent team meetings in your diary. It is amazing how quickly you tune into your team - but remember you are the role model. So check in: before you ask ‘how can I make them happier?’, ask ‘how happy am I?’.

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