I think the most important way to manage people is to lead by example. It is difficult to feel motivated and as though you want to put your all into a project when your manager frequently turns up to work some hours after you and leaves some hours before you. The best managers I have worked for work to the same hours as their staff and when it comes to it are quite willing to get their hands dirty doing the most lowly of jobs. There's nothing more demotivating than feeling like someone else is taking the reward for all your efforts...

I agree consistency is key to maintain staff momentum - always praise, always celebrate success and certainly share failure. Staff efforts will always make that fine-line of difference between the market leader and the liquidated, especially at difficult times, and they should be told that.

But that is not enough. Managers must actually lead - and by lead I mean inspire; by bringing infectious enthusiasm to a workplace day after day, selling the vision even if they don’t feel like it. At difficult times, even keen and talented staff look to managers for confidence that their work continues to make a difference - we’ve all felt it: there is nothing more demotivating that believing your work is pointless. As Bethan says, get out there. See and be seen.