There’s nothing worse than dreading the journey to work because you know your marketing team isn’t quite as ‘on it’ as they used to be. It’s a crushing feeling - particularly when you’re so invested in the business yourself. What gives? Why do they appear to be so unproductive when they were once flying high and smashing every target? Fear not, for there are some smart, tried-and-tested methods you can adopt to rejuvenate your flagging marketing team, and I’d like to share them with you today. 1. Speak to themThe first tip is an obvious one, but something we all overlook when we’re busy or just downright frustrated with a perceived lack of effort on behalf of the team. If they’ve previously been stars but now appear to have as much momentum as a rock on level ground, something is wrong. Speak to the team either on an individual basis or in a group setting. Ask them how they are and what concerns them. If they’re a good team, they’ll soon open up. 2. Celebrate their past achievementsSure, so things aren’t going particularly well at the moment, but let’s think about what the team has achieved in the past. They absolutely nailed that last marketing campaign, so why not pull it out of the archives to raise their spirits? A subtle reminder of past achievements is sometimes all the inspiration people need to get back to their absolute best. 3. Give them more responsibility You may have fallen into the classic grey area of micromanagement if your team has suddenly become unproductive. This isn’t your fault (it happens), but it’s something you can easily rectify. The team might be feeling that they don’t have as much responsibility or autonomy as they once had, and that can really stifle creativity. So, take some time to review your current management style, and when you speak to the team (see tip 1), ask if they feel hampered in any way. Let them fly solo for as much of the day as possible. 4. Try flexible working Are you still sticking to a rigid 9-5, Monday-to-Friday working pattern? It might be causing more problems than you realise. We live in the age of the flexible worker, and if your marketing team appears to have gone off the boil, they might be hankering after a similar working style. This doesn’t mean giving people carte blanche to come in whenever they want and leave early on Fridays - it means asking them to work their allotted hours, but doing so at times when they feel most creative and motivated. It might feel like a big change to make, but it could have a very positive impact indeed on your team. 5. Remind everyone of the company mission It’s important for employees to know what the company’s goals are. Without that knowledge, they can easily become demotivated. Take some time out from ‘normal’ work to revisit the company’s mission with the team. Show them why it was devised and what it means to everyone in the business. The more they buy-in to the mission, the more likely they are to have high levels of motivation. Wrapping up Your marketing team isn’t a lost cause! Use my tips above, and you’ll have them back to their best in no time at all. Guest Author BioMark Ellis is a freelance writer who specialises in copywriting, blogging and content marketing for businesses of all sizes. Mark’s considerable experience at director level and deep interest in personal and business success means he’s ready to comment on anything from freelance writing to workplace dynamics, technology and personal improvement Comments are closed.
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