A Lesson from the Cornhuskers

By Libby Anderson

Having grown up in Nebraska, I am proud to say that I am a Cornhusker. (You can’t be from Nebraska and not say that.) About the only thing that may mean to a non-Midwesterner is football. Then there are the football fans. That means wearing red on every Saturday in the fall regardless of where the game is being played. And, if you are fortunate enough to attend, screaming yourself hoarse in support of the Huskers at the game. And proudly displaying every logo item known to man that bears the Husker symbol.

How does this translate to your business? This is team spirit. And in order for you to retain and motivate employees, it is critical to your business success.

Laying the groundwork for developing team spirit starts with developing positive relationships with your staff. Nebraskans would not have felt the same way about their team if they weren’t so fond of recently retired coach and team leader Tom Osborne. They felt like they had a positive and personal relationship with him.

Relationships like that are developed by knowing your staff and taking the time to build rapport with each and every one of them. Do you know something personal and special about each of your staff members? You should. Do you support them and work to develop trust in these relationships? You better. Keep in mind that knowing things about them and getting involved in employee’s personal lives are different.

Once you have positive relationships with your staff the fun can begin. And I mean fun. This is a critical component of team spirit. Sharing a laugh over something silly develops fond memories and strengthens the bonds of your team. Adopting affectionate nicknames for team members or for the team is fun. Spontaneous clapping when a team member has an individual accomplishment is fun. (In the case of the Huskers, a cheer for “Big Red” would accompany that.) All of these things develop “we-ness.”

Do you have an office mascot? Many business owners bring their dogs to work. When that isn’t feasible, some other symbol of unity can develop team spirit. The office mascot can represent you, your staff, and your business culture or philosophy.

Are team successes celebrated in your organization? I work with a business owner who has a huge ship bell that he rings for the office when a new client signs on with the company. Special celebrations with all staff members when a business goal is accomplished shows appreciation for the efforts of the team and recognizes that everyone contributes to your business success.

Promoting the diversity of your team members is a strong contributor to team spirit. A continually increasing number of diverse workers are enhancing and enriching our work environment. Focusing on those factors promotes positive feelings among all team members. One business I know has a very diverse workforce so they capitalize on it by having potluck lunches regularly. This allows the staff to express themselves and share their uniqueness through a favorite pastime: eating. During the holiday season one organization had each team member bring something to the office that represented his or her way of celebrating the season.

As with family, developing traditions in your business can certainly enhance your team spirit. Traditions like celebrating employment anniversaries, having an office gathering at a special place, or kicking off a new business cycle with some type of pep rally gives employees something to look forward to and gives them a sense of belonging.

Including EVERYONE in your efforts to increase your team spirit is critical. If you have a team member who is reticent to participate it can certainly rain on everyone’s parade. Asking a team member for feedback on building spirit within your team will help. In addition, involve new team members immediately so that your team spirit doesn’t intimidate them or exclude them.

Working with a team that has spirit is a benefit to everyone. Customers can feel the enthusiasm of your staff and feel they are receiving better service, employees will be motivated to contribute more, and your recruiting efforts may become easier because people are attracted to an environment that has energy and spirit. And remember, you can’t do it alone, so GO TEAM!

Libby Anderson is a human resource consultant and trainer. She can be reached via e-mail at edahrsvcs@aol.com. She still wears red on game days.