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How to Motivate Your Team During Crunch Time

The Real Talk No One Says Out Loud About Crunch Seasons


If you’re trying to figure out how to motivate your team during crunch time without everyone melting into a puddle by Friday… you’re not alone. Busy seasons dial everything up: the hours, the pressure, the tiny emergencies that somehow all happen at once.


And whether you're running an accounting firm, a product-based shop prepping for holiday launches, or a service business with back-to-back deadlines, crunch time creates the same universal feeling: “My team is overwhelmed! How do I keep them supported and energized?”


Good news? It’s manageable. And with a little intention, it can even bring your team closer together.


As you read, know this: you’re doing your best, and your people feel that. Let’s make it even easier for you. RELATED: Managing Stress and Avoiding Burnout For Women In Business


1. Understand the Crunch Before You Try to Fix It


Before you jump into solutions, pause and get curious. When things are moving fast, leaders often forget what it feels like to be deep in the day-to-day grind.


A simple pulse check helps you lead better


Ask your team or leads:


  • What feels overwhelming right now?

  • What’s bottlenecked?

  • What’s actually working well?

  • What would help things flow faster?


Then do the most underrated leadership move on earth: listen without immediately responding.


A mini-scenario


If your designer says, “I’m drowning in revisions,” your job isn’t to immediately assign more help; it’s to understand the root. Maybe expectations aren’t clear. Maybe the handoff process needs tightening. Maybe it’s just a temporary wave.


When people feel seen, they feel supported, and support fuels motivation.


2. Reinforce Their Expertise (Especially When the Pressure Rises)


Crunch time has a sneaky way of making even the most capable people question their competence. A single chat notification can feel like a trigger instead of a task.


That’s why affirming your team’s expertise matters so much.


Try phrases like:


  • “This season is tough, but you’re handling it with so much professionalism.”

  • “We trust you with this work because you’re great at it.”

  • “This busy season is proof of your skill, not a measure of your worth.”


A tiny number to show their impact


If your team handled 40 client tickets last week, and this week they handled 55? Call that out. Celebrate it. Name the growth.


Confidence is contagious, and you’re the one who gets to pass it on.


3. Set Clear, Open Communication Expectations


Uncertainty is exhausting, especially when time is tight. Clear communication creates oxygen for your team.


Make sure everyone knows:


  • Where they should ask questions

  • What to do when they get stuck

  • Who handles what

  • Which channels are monitored

  • When to expect responses


Inside Pretty Penny, we even have a Chat channel called “IDK WHO TO ASK.” It stays very active during tax season, and honestly, it’s a lifesaver.


Why it matters


One unanswered question can pause an entire workflow. Clarity keeps things moving, even on the


4. Celebrate the Little Wins


When deadlines get big, small wins get invisible. But they matter a lot.


Easy ways to celebrate:


  • Drop positive client emails into a shared “Wins” channel

  • Highlight one team member each week

  • Shout out a tiny-but-mighty moment in your standup

  • Copy/paste any “you saved the day” messages you get


It takes 10 seconds. The morale boost lasts for days.


Example


If someone catches a mistake before it impacts a client? Pause. Say it out loud. Let everyone feel the ripple effect of that save.


Momentum grows when people feel appreciated.


5. Set (and Actually Stick to) Realistic Expectations


Crunch time doesn’t mean unrealistic time. Your team needs to know exactly what’s expected of them, not guess.


Try outlining things like:


  • Required hours

  • What to do if they can’t meet those hours

  • What to do if they exceed them

  • How to flag capacity issues

  • When “max hours” rules apply


Doing this prevents the silent stress that builds when people worry privately.


Why it works


Clear expectations → calmer team → stronger performance.It’s truly that simple.


6. Lead With Humanity First, Strategy Second


This is the heartbeat of great leadership. Your team is not a set of task-completing robots — they’re humans with families, colds, unfinished dinners, and big dreams.


Human-centered leadership looks like:


  • Sending a team member a coffee when you know they’re overwhelmed

  • Canceling a meeting so someone can get fresh air

  • Encouraging real breaks — not “I’ll just check my email while I microwave my lunch” breaks

  • Letting someone log off early when they’ve been crushing it for days


A simple example


If you notice someone sounds off on a call? Say, “Hey, you okay? Anything you need?”

It costs you nothing. It builds everything.


People show up stronger when they feel valued. And valued people stay.


Bringing It All Together


If you want to know how to motivate your team during crunch time, the truth is beautifully simple:


See them. Hear them. Support them. Celebrate them. Lead them like humans, not machines.


Crunch seasons will always happen. But burnout doesn’t have to.


And if part of your crunch time stress comes from not having a clear handle on your business numbers or workload planning, I’ve got something that will help.


If you want more clarity and confidence as you lead your team through busy seasons, grab the free Gain Financial Clarity Guide. It walks you through the exact habits, numbers, and systems that make crunch time easier, so you can lead from calm instead of chaos. P.S. If you’re not already on our email list, now’s the perfect time to join. You’ll get easy, practical tips delivered straight to your inbox, so managing your business finances feels way less overwhelming (and dare we say, empowering).



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