As a team leader, you know that your team's morale can make or break your project's success. Engaged and motivated teams are more productive, creative, and effective. But how do you reliably measure the mood of your team?
Nowadays, a mood checker app quantifies the emotional state of your team and helps track it over time. You can also collect anonymous, honest feedback from your team and use it to start important conversations during 1:1 meetings.
In this article, we'll discuss how mood tracking works, how to use it to monitor your workplace's mental health, and how to leverage the data you collect during your 1:1s.
The Benefits of Well-being in the Workplace
Amidst the global pandemic, the "Great Resignation" phenomenon is changing the dynamics of the global job market. Companies are increasingly finding it increasingly difficult to attract the top talent they need to grow and recover from the crisis.
With the rise of telecommuting and digital nomadism, employees have a wider array of choices, making it necessary for employers to compete fiercely for their recruitment. In such a competitive environment, improving team morale becomes crucial for managers to retain their top-performing employees.
A study conducted by three economists from the University of Warwick in 2014 found that happy employees are 12% more productive, while unhappy employees are 10% less productive. While companies cannot impose happiness on their employees, creating an environment that fosters positive mental states can help boost productivity. The challenge lies in measuring team morale and gathering candid feedback to improve and maintain employee satisfaction.
The need to run regular mood check-ins
With increasing complexity, employees face a myriad of pressures that can lead to dissatisfaction and lower productivity.
This is where regular mood checks come in handy.
By leveraging this strategy, teams can improve trust, foster feedback, and create a culture of constructive criticism. Proactively raising issues and addressing them promptly can go a long way in ensuring team cohesion.
Mood checks also enable teammates to share their feelings more easily, seek help when needed, and develop mutual aid.
How to leverage team mood check during 1:1s?
In the world of Agile coaching, James Willis emphasizes the importance of using team mood checks effectively. It's not enough to simply take a snapshot of team mood at any given moment. Rather, tracking the evolution of mood over time through a mood indicator chart can help identify sudden changes and determine the overall trajectory of the team's mood.
Of course, the value of the mood check lies in sharing the results openly with the team and encouraging discussion about potential issues and solutions. This approach can help team leaders demonstrate that they value their team's well-being and are invested in creating a positive work environment. Additionally, discussing positive results can offer opportunities for celebration and recognition.
You can break the ice during 1:1s by looking at the average mood level of the team with your teammate and asking them if they think they are above or below the average. Then, you can discuss the whys together.
1:1s can often be stressful for everyone, but this method allows for interesting insights and allows people to engage in the discussion lightly, making people more comfortable.
The TeamMood tool to the rescue
The case of TeamMood is an example of an online program that helps team leaders gauge their team's mood regularly.
This online Niko-Niko calendar and feedback box enables team members to share their feelings anonymously, making it easier for them to voice their opinions without fear of judgment.
With a simple daily email asking, "How do you feel today?", TeamMood allows team leaders to track the evolution of their team's mood, encourage feedback and ideas for improvement, and openly discuss any issues with their team. This tool's ability to ensure anonymity and promote transparency within the team makes it a valuable asset in creating a productive workplace.
