Motivating your team when you're on top is easy. It's when times are tough that your leadership skills are tested. How do you communicate hope and inspire your team to persevere? First, lay a foundation when times are good, and then, lead from the middle.  Sam Walton, who founded Wal-Mart, was a retail wizard. What was his secret? Walton didn't lead from the top of the organization. He led from the middle.

 

Walton understood that the best communication resulted when information flowed in every direction—up, down and sideways—not just from the boss to the troops. Information is power, and Walton believed in decentralizing that power and distributing it throughout the organization.

 

He viewed his employees as associates and partners. Shortly before his death in 1992, Walton said: "Communicate everything you possibly can to your partners. The more they know, the more they'll understand. The more they understand, the more they'll care. Once they care, there's no stopping them."

 

Remember that as parents, teachers, presidents, managers, coaches and mentors, we are teammates as well as leaders.

 

As leaders, we need to show those around us we care about them as people. As we build these relationships and confirm our compassion for our teammates, we ensure that they will be there when the times are tough.