Discussion on:

Build a work environment that motivates your staff

I work in an organization that has been experiencing regular layoffs for the last two years. Some of my team members are unable to complete tasks and seem to have lost hope of keeping their jobs or having a future with the company. How can I motivate team members through these challenging times?

A good work ethic, up-to-date job skills, a current CV are all effective weapons against job instability...be honest with your folks, help them to look and be their best...they will in-turn help you now, perhaps help you later...

An effective motivation technique would include making sure that employees have the skills and knowledge (an assessment interview would do nicely) necessary to do the job (ingredients) ...and, if the employee is up to speed, an "empowerment contract" would go a long way to make the employee take ownership and run with the task/project...(the actual recipe)
Sprinkle in a constant flow of communication, "questions about the family," a sincere "how are you today," and a little team building time at the local pub on Friday afternoon will help more than you would expect...
Add a little Reward to recognize their effort, a pat on the back would suffice if the budget is tight..."lead" and don't manage...roll your sleeves up as well...get some "flour" on you hands..
Give it all some time...several months (to bake)...be firm and make sure your expectations are no surprise...(take it out of the oven and congratulate yourself on a job well done)...
despite the sweat and nerve racking times look like you are having fun... Take a leadership course or read a few books...try to keep up your technical skills as well...

I'm working in a virtual team that is spread out across the US. It's a challenge to have Friday nights at the pub.

I was a member and then Team Leader of a virtual team (Northeast U.S. first and then the Southeast U.S.)during a Lotus Notes implementation and hardware upgrade...We would get together periodically when sites needed the attention of several team members...those were good times, as we learned to work effectively together under the pressure of tight timeframes...those times were social as well...

Do you have suggestions on which books to read?

Just pop in a your local Borders bookstore or go online with Amazon and get a couple of books on leadership...it is important to be able to distinguish the difference between managing and leadership...managing can be as simple as maintaining the status quo; an effective leader will take a group or concept forward, challenging the status quo, getting into uncharted territory, etc...a bit frightening but very rewarding and character building when successful...

The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Good TO Great by Jim Collins are both excellent selections in my opinion.