Want to Lift Morale? Practice Counterintuitive Generosity

Fill in the blank: When the going gets tough, your boss gets _____.

What word or phrase did you choose -- cranky? Stressed? Unavailable? More demanding?

Any one of those adjectives could apply to the lion's share of bosses I've had. But there was one boss (yes, Mr. H-S, I'm talking about you) I'd have to describe with a different adjective:

Nicer.

Seriously. We were working insane hours getting ready for a site launch? He'd take the whole team out to an afternoon movie. Company going through a tricky merger? Surprise: free pizza in the lunchroom. Everyone freaking out about layoffs? He'd drop by with a joke, a compliment, a kind word.

Don't get me wrong, he was also great when it was smooth sailing. It's just that when work life gave us lemons, he didn't get sour along with the circumstances. Not only did he make lemonade, but he served it to us in lovely mugs topped with decorative parasols.

Yes, I'm speaking figuratively, but that kind of inverse reaction is something that good managers work hard to create. They know that how bosses react under stress has a huge impact on a team. If a manager is feeling the heat and in turns sends flames toward the rank and file, employees become resentful, more detached, and less productive. This makes his job harder -- and voila, more stress. What a vicious circle.

But if a manager practices counterintuitive generosity -- that is, the worse things get, the better he treats his staff -- he gets rewarded with employees who are loyal, engaged, and willing to slog through the mud with him.

So think about how you act on those tough days. And make sure it's not as tough for your team.