Your team is facing challenging quality control audits. How can you keep their morale and motivation high?

FIRSTLY THE TEAM NEEDS A LOT OF CALM AND OPEN COMMUNICATION WHEN THEY ARE CARRYING OUT THE AUDIT, ANSWERING ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE ASKED, ALWAYS DEFENDING THE COMPANY, BETTER WITHIN THE AUDIT STANDARD PROCEDURES

Put yourself in there position and explain to them that audits are not a tool to place blame, but rather a tool to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement!

Develop a strong team mentality. As an organisation you have to be strong but realise that in less stressful months of the working calendar you cut all employees some slack. All teams should work as a unit and all know what their function is within that unit. The one thing I never like within teams is a superiority attitude that divides team ethics and gives an impression to some that their role is unimportant. Develop a team that looks out for each other and steps in at times to support each other.

It is about being available for the team. Create a safe and unbiased space to listen to any concerns or frustrations. Empathy can be shown in any shape or form which is one of the many ways to boost morale in one.

Make yourself as Quality Manager part of the strategy. Involve yourself in all meetings, support proactively rather than awaiting to hear the potential barriers. Walk alongside your team, support them, help them, show them you are a true leader and develop trust, respect and allow them to identify that you have their back and professional development at heart. I had a manager that whenever you went into a meeting externally or internally you knew you were never going to come out feeling vulnerable and the support would be never doubted even if you had got something wrong. Then it was a case of private explanation, constant support until the task was understood.

Clear communication is essential to keeping team morale high. It is crucial that everyone clearly understands what is expected of them, the standards they must meet, and why these audits are important to the organization. Thoroughly explaining the audit process and any changes to usual procedures is essential. This helps reduce uncertainty and anxiety, allowing the team to feel more confident and in control of the situation.

Value all ideas, develop within the calendar a meeting mixing casual conversation outside of the business and another half that discusses team ideas. Never ignore a suggestion, look for the pros and cons. When you hold appraisals remembers suggestions and confirm why you had or had not gone with their suggestion/s. Encourage suggestions and use their suggestions in team meetings in the future even if you did not use them (eg “Remember in our informal meeting slot three months ago Emma suggested a great idea regards monitoring action plans more effectively but we did not use because we believed at the time there may be a resource issue”. Never let an idea be forgotten that way your team will always believe their opinion is valued

Let's not wait to celebrate big wins only. Acknowledging short progress, and celebrating small wins can create a positive learning and practicing work culture. Acknowledge the team's efforts and hard work during meetings, audits, or casual conversations. These small recognitions can help the team feel noticed and appreciated.

El reconocimiento personalizado es particularmente efectivo, ya que muestra a cada miembro del equipo que su contribución individual es importante. Esto genera un sentido de pertenencia y compromiso, lo que es crucial para el éxito general de la auditoría.

It is essential to take the time to recognize both individual and team achievements, no matter how small they may seem. Praising your team for their dedication and the quality of their work is crucial. This type of recognition not only boosts morale, but also reinforces the behaviors and standards that are critical during an audit.

El reconocimiento es clave para la motivación del equipo. Celebra los logros individuales y colectivos, y muestra gratitud regularmente. Esto mejora la moral, fortalece la cohesión y fomenta altos estándares de calidad.

Preparar adecuadamente al equipo para las auditorías de control de calidad es fundamental para garantizar un proceso fluido y exitoso. Brindarles la formación y los recursos necesarios no solo aumenta su conocimiento y habilidades, sino que también refuerza su confianza y moral.

Learning requires practice and repetition. It's unrealistic to expect everyone to remember all the established SOPs, policies, and other content alongside their daily activities. Providing resources, training materials, and refresher courses can better prepare a team for audits, inspections, and proper adherence to SOPs. This approach ensures the team isn't set up for failure but rather keeps their motivation and confidence high as they feel prepared and knowledgeable.

Investing in your team's skill development shows your commitment to their professional growth. By preparing your team well through appropriate training and resources, you not only increase the likelihood of success during quality assurance audits, but you also contribute to the professional development and strengthening of your employees' engagement.

I strongly advocate for team-building activities. These activities cultivate an atmosphere of trust, support, stress reduction, and collaborative effort. Involve your team in important discussions, changes, and new implementations to promote transparency and information sharing. This helps create a work culture where everyone learns and grows together as a cohesive team.

It's important to encourage your team to work together, share knowledge, and support each other. When team members collaborate effectively, they can more easily identify and resolve issues, leading to better results and a smoother audit process.

Además de fomentar el trabajo en equipo, es importante que los roles queden claros para que todos conozcan sus responsabilidades. Y también el team building para fortalecer las relaciones interprofesionales. Valorar la diversidad de opiniones que incentiva la creatividad. Un entorno colaborativo minimiza el estrés y potencia la eficiencia, llevando a un proceso de auditoría más exitoso.

Además de las estrategias mencionadas, es crucial mantener una comunicación abierta y constante con tu equipo. La transparencia en cuanto a expectativas y objetivos puede reducir la incertidumbre y, por ende, el estrés. Organizar sesiones regulares de retroalimentación permite identificar problemas antes de que se conviertan en obstáculos mayores y proporciona a los miembros del equipo una plataforma para expresar sus preocupaciones. Reconocer y celebrar los logros, por pequeños que sean, también contribuye a mantener la moral alta y a fomentar un ambiente de trabajo positivo.