Hardly a day goes by that you don’t hear the oldest cliche in advertising: It’s all about the work. The problem is, it’s not true. If you want great work, it’s all about the people you’re trusting to do it.
Morale is a funny, amorphous thing. Everything affects it. Everything is touched by it. It’s the most tangible of the intangibles.
Without it, passion isn’t possible. With it, you have an unstoppable force.
Projects are what they are. Business is what it is. Morale, mojo, hutzpah, whatever you call it, is the one quality that defines your shop and makes all brilliance possible.
Listen to your people. Not just to their voices, but to the real messages they are sending out. Understand what inspires the unique and rare chemistry that is your team. Give them, to the best of your ability, the things they need to create miracles. Think of them first. Think of them last. And know that malcontents (except, of course, the true poisoners ) even have their role to play.
What will you get in return? People who are all about the work.