Increasing wages doesn’t actually increase team spirit. It can increase individual moral- but if you raise a teams wages proportionally- the earnings of each team member relative to another remains the same. What’s more- it has been repeatedly demonstrated that when you increase a persons wages- the effects on moral are temporary. People adjust to increased income. The work doesn’t change just because the money does.
This is commonly seen through all human behavior. 99% of the world lives below the poverty line of the remaining 1%- I’m not talking billionaires- I’m talking middle class Americans and Europeans and so on. But how grateful and happy are most people to have toilet paper and clean water? A place to sleep or just having a job at all where they don’t work 300 hours for $20 a month under conditions that make them jump from roofs.
And there it is. If you say: “just be happy for what you have...” that’s a bit callous isn’t it? But.... that’s the problem isn’t it? Most people aren’t happy with more. Even the billionaires of the world with enough money to never need more- do they stop wanting more? Most don’t. Now- studies show there is a point where increasing money increases a persons overall happiness- but beyond that point there is no marked increase and often decreases in happiness. But that is INDIVIDUAL happiness and not an individuals ability to work as a team.
But here’s the kick in the pants- the average infantry trooper doesn’t make a lot of money- yet... team work is somewhat a central pillar of the military isn’t it? And you’ll find incredible
Teams working in warehouses and fast food joints- supporting each other and being amazing teams. Teamwork isn’t about money- it’s about relationships and personalities. Some people aren’t team players no matter how much money you throw at them.
The biggest morale killer for me is incompetence or individuals in a position of power not caring. If im coming to a lead/manager with an issue that i can't resolve and they roll their eyes or blow it off, it just makes my blood boil.
Teams working in warehouses and fast food joints- supporting each other and being amazing teams. Teamwork isn’t about money- it’s about relationships and personalities. Some people aren’t team players no matter how much money you throw at them.