Have you ever noticed how the atmosphere in the locker room before a game can set the tone for the whole match?
The same applies to leadership. The “locker room” the environment you create in meetings, daily interactions, and team spaces, shapes how your people perform.
If your team walks into a meeting feeling dread, they’ll play with hesitation. But if they walk in feeling encouraged and clear, they’ll give their best.
I often suggest managers begin every meeting with a short check-in, asking, “What’s one win from your week?” It shifts the energy completely. People look forward to meetings instead of dreading them.
Challenge this week:
Pay attention to your “locker room.” What’s the atmosphere like in your team spaces? How could you shift the energy from heavy to hopeful or from tense to focused?