Motivation

I am going to have to have words with the managing director. After his monthly motivational speech half my team need suicide counselling. He gets worse with every speech he delivers despite the fact that our company is running with growth and profit figures that are as good or better than any of our competitors. His speech this afternoon could best be summarised:

Our growth is below target. Our profit is below target. Here are the major factors that influenced it (almost all outside the control of this audience). Other companies in the same market position have moved to South-East Asia. If we don't improve we'll sack more people.

Now some background context: We have a number of new products almost ready for release that should significantly boost both growth and profitability. These are products that the people here have been working on for the past couple of years. Releasing these products to the marketplace is within our control. Do you think we could have a message of encouragement or acknowledgement of the work done and the impact it will have on our future? How can people get motivated about their work when what they actually do doesn't get a mention, but the things they can't control get held up as sticks to club them to death with?