Last Updated on July 19, 2026 by Status.net Editorial Team
- Transforming Obstacles into Opportunities Part 1
- Learning from Mistakes and Failures Part 2
- Inspirational Words That Ignite Passion Part 3
- Monday Motivational Phrases for a Fresh Start Part 4
- Celebrating Collective Efforts and Achievements Part 5
- Motivational Phrases for Leaders and Managers Part 6
- Fostering a Culture of Support and Encouragement Part 7
- Phrases of Gratitude and Appreciation at Work Part 8
- Fueling Ambition and Creativity Part 9
- Motivational Phrases for Embracing Change at Work Part 10
- Phrases for Determination Part 11
- Taking Calculated Risks Part 12
- Motivational Phrases to Beat Burnout and Stress Part 13
- How to Use Motivational Phrases Effectively at Work Part 14
The right motivational phrases can transform our work experience, helping us find renewed energy and purpose even on difficult days. These short but meaningful expressions serve as mental tools that successful people use to overcome barriers and achieve their goals.
Part 1Transforming Obstacles into Opportunities
Everyone faces barriers at work. The key is changing how we see these challenges. Instead of feeling stuck, try viewing obstacles as chances to grow and learn new skills.
- “What appears impossible today will become your greatest achievement.”
- “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”
- “The obstacle in the path becomes the path.”
- “Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines.”
- “When you can’t change the direction of the wind, adjust your sails.”
- “Turn your wounds into wisdom.”
- “The bigger the challenge, the bigger the opportunity.”
- “Every problem has a gift for you in its hands.”
- “Stones in your path? Collect them all and build something.”
- “Challenges are what make life interesting.”
- “The only way around is through.”
- “Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better.”
- “Behind every obstacle lies an opportunity to improve.”
- “Your struggle today develops your strength for tomorrow.”
- “Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity.”
- “Great challenges make life interesting; overcoming them makes life meaningful.”
- “When everything seems to be going against you, remember the airplane takes off against the wind.”
- “Challenges are not meant to break you, but to make you.”
- “The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.”
- “Tough times never last, but tough people do.”
A phrase works best when it is paired with a specific situation. Rather than posting a general quote on a shared screen, try naming the actual obstacle a colleague is facing and offering the phrase as a direct response to it. This small shift, connecting the words to the real problem in front of someone, is often what separates a phrase that lands from one that feels like decoration.
Part 2Learning from Mistakes and Failures
Mistakes happen to everyone. What matters is how we respond to them. Smart workers see failures as valuable feedback that points the way toward future success.
- “Failure is success in progress.”
- “The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.”
- “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
- “Every failure is a lesson. If you’re not failing, you’re not trying hard enough.”
- “Fall seven times, stand up eight.”
- “Mistakes are proof that you’re trying.”
- “Your past mistakes are meant to guide you, not define you.”
- “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”
- “The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”
- “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.”
- “Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.”
- “There is no innovation without failure.”
- “You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing and falling over.”
- “Failure isn’t fatal, but failure to change might be.”
- “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
- “Don’t fear failure—fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.”
- “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
- “The only failure is not trying.”
- “Every adversity carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.”
- “When we give ourselves permission to fail, we give ourselves permission to excel.”
Teams that recover well from setbacks tend to build a short debrief habit into their routine: what happened, what it revealed, and what to try differently next time. Sharing one of these phrases at the start of that conversation can soften the mood and remind everyone that the goal is learning, rather than blame.
The Role of Curiosity in Surmounting Difficulties
Wonder and openness to new ideas help workers find creative solutions. Asking questions and staying curious leads to innovation that can overcome even the toughest problems.
- “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”
- “Stay curious and you will find the way.”
- “Questions are the answer.”
- “Curiosity is the engine of achievement.”
- “Be less afraid of making mistakes and more afraid of not learning.”
- “Follow your curiosity. It will lead you to unexpected places.”
- “Curiosity fuels innovation.”
- “The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.”
- “Ask better questions to get better answers.”
- “Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.”
- “Stay hungry, stay foolish.”
- “Leave no stone unturned.”
- “Be stubborn about your goals and flexible about your methods.”
- “The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.”
- “Judge a person by their questions rather than their answers.”
- “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”
- “What you seek is seeking you.”
- “The doors will be opened to those who are bold enough to knock.”
- “The future belongs to the curious.”
- “Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will.”
Part 3Inspirational Words That Ignite Passion
Motivational Phrases to Fuel Your Day
Starting your morning with positive affirmations can transform your entire workday. Words have power to shift mindsets from doubt to confidence.
- “Your potential has no limits.”
- “Today is full of possibilities.”
- “Small steps lead to big achievements.”
- “You’ve overcome challenges before.”
- “Progress matters more than perfection.”
- “Your work makes a difference.”
- “Focus on growth, not obstacles.”
- “This challenge will make you stronger.”
- “You bring unique talents to the table.”
- “Believe in your abilities.”
- “Success comes to those who persist.”
- “Your attitude determines your direction.”
- “Each effort moves you forward.”
- “You have everything needed to succeed.”
- “Trust your skills and knowledge.”
- “Every expert was once a beginner.”
- “Your passion shines through your work.”
- “Challenges reveal your strengths.”
- “Your dedication inspires others.”
- “This moment is your opportunity.”
Motivational Words That Start With T
Sometimes a single word carries as much weight as a full sentence, especially when it needs to fit in an email subject line, a whiteboard header, or a chat status. Words that start with T come up often in workplace motivation because so many of the qualities we associate with strong performance, trust, tenacity, triumph, begin with that letter.
- Tenacity
- Triumph
- Trust
- Thrive
- Tireless
- Trailblazer
- Teamwork
- Transformation
- Talent
- Together
- Truth
- Target
- Traction
- Try
- Transcend
- Timely
- Tomorrow
- Tribute
These single words work well as headers above a longer message, as hashtags on internal recognition posts, or as one-word answers to “what’s your focus this week” prompts in team check-ins. A single strong word often lands better than a paragraph when someone is scanning a busy inbox.
Part 4Monday Motivational Phrases for a Fresh Start
Monday carries a psychological reset that researchers call the “fresh start effect.” People are more likely to commit to new goals, habits, and effort right after a natural turning point, and the start of a new week is one of the most reliable of these moments. Opening a Monday meeting or message with the right phrase can help a team channel that reset energy instead of letting it slip away by Tuesday.
- “A new week means a new set of possibilities.”
- “Monday is your chance to write a better story this week.”
- “Start this week with the energy you wish you’d had last week.”
- “Every Monday is a fresh page in your story.”
- “This week’s wins start with today’s effort.”
- “Reset your focus, then watch your results follow.”
- “The tone you set on Monday carries through the whole week.”
- “New week, new energy, new results.”
- “Monday is proof that you get another chance.”
- “Choose momentum over hesitation this morning.”
- “Whatever last week left unfinished, this week is ready to receive.”
- “Let this Monday be the one you look back on with pride.”
- “Small wins on Monday build big weeks.”
- “Today sets the pace for everything that follows.”
- “You don’t need motivation to start, just one small step.”
- “This week is unwritten. Make it count.”
- “Monday mornings are for planting seeds you’ll harvest by Friday.”
- “Fresh week, fresh focus, fresh results.”
Part 5Celebrating Collective Efforts and Achievements
Recognition of team accomplishments boosts morale and reinforces positive collaborative behaviors. Acknowledging shared success creates a cycle of motivation that drives teams toward greater heights.
- “Together we achieved what seemed impossible.”
- “Our collective wisdom surpassed individual limitations.”
- “Every person’s contribution made this success possible.”
- “We turned individual talents into team triumphs.”
- “This win belongs to every team member.”
- “Our synchronized efforts created amazing results.”
- “We proved that teamwork multiplies individual potential.”
- “Each puzzle piece came together perfectly.”
- “We turned challenges into stepping stones together.”
- “Our shared vision became reality through collaboration.”
- “Success tastes sweeter when celebrated together.”
- “Today’s achievement reflects our unified strength.”
- “We climbed this mountain by supporting each other.”
- “The magic happens when we work as one.”
- “Our different skills created a perfect outcome.”
- “Great teams make big obstacles seem small.”
- “What we accomplished together outshines any solo effort.”
- “Team synergy transformed our work into excellence.”
- “We didn’t just meet expectations—we exceeded them together.”
- “This milestone belongs to every one of us.”
Timing matters as much as the words themselves. Recognition delivered within a day or two of the achievement, while the details are still fresh, tends to feel far more genuine than a general shout-out weeks later during a quarterly review.
Part 6Motivational Phrases for Leaders and Managers
Phrases from a manager or team lead carry a different weight than phrases shared between peers. Employees notice when encouragement from leadership feels genuine versus when it feels like a script pulled from a poster. The most effective leadership phrases name something real, a specific effort, a specific improvement, rather than offering praise in the abstract.
- “I see the effort you’re putting in, and it matters.”
- “You don’t need my permission to be excellent.”
- “I trust your judgment on this.”
- “Your growth this quarter has been noticeable.”
- “I’d rather have your honest concerns than your silent agreement.”
- “A strong team is built one honest conversation at a time.”
- “My job is to clear the path, not walk it for you.”
- “You were hired for your judgment. Use it.”
- “Good leaders create more leaders, not more followers.”
- “I’d rather you try and adjust than wait for perfect conditions.”
- “Your questions make this team sharper.”
- “I believe in your ability to figure this out.”
- “Mistakes here are treated as data, not verdicts.”
- “The best idea in the room can come from anyone.”
- “I’d rather slow down and get this right than rush and redo it.”
- “Your work today is building tomorrow’s opportunities.”
- “I don’t expect perfection. I expect honesty about progress.”
- “Great teams are built when people feel safe to speak up.”
Part 7Fostering a Culture of Support and Encouragement
Supportive team environments allow people to take risks, learn from failures, and grow professionally. Teams thrive when members lift each other up and create psychological safety.
- “Your strengths complement our team perfectly.”
- “We rise by lifting others.”
- “Your contribution makes our team stronger.”
- “When you win, we all win.”
- “I believe in what we can accomplish together.”
- “Your unique perspective helps everyone see clearer.”
- “We’ve got your back through every challenge.”
- “Small acts of support build unbreakable teams.”
- “Growing together makes success sustainable.”
- “Trust makes our teamwork possible.”
- “Your progress inspires the entire team.”
- “We value your voice in every discussion.”
- “The best teams communicate honestly and openly.”
- “Supporting each other turns obstacles into opportunities.”
- “We celebrate your wins as our collective victory.”
- “Teams that trust each other accomplish amazing things.”
- “Your courage to try new approaches lifts us all.”
- “Asking for help strengthens our whole team.”
- “Every question moves us forward together.”
- “Our differences create our strongest solutions.”
Psychological safety grows from repeated small moments rather than one big speech. A team that hears these phrases consistently, especially right after someone admits a mistake or asks a hard question, learns over time that honesty is rewarded here rather than punished.
Part 8Phrases of Gratitude and Appreciation at Work
Gratitude and celebration overlap, but they are not quite the same thing. Celebration marks a finished result. Gratitude acknowledges the effort, patience, or character someone brought to the work, regardless of the outcome. Teams that practice both tend to hold onto good people longer, because employees feel seen for who they are, not only for what they produced.
- “Thank you for showing up fully, even on the hard days.”
- “Your patience with this project did not go unnoticed.”
- “I’m grateful for how you handled that difficult conversation.”
- “Thank you for asking the question no one else wanted to ask.”
- “Your steadiness helped the whole team stay calm.”
- “I appreciate you more than this quick note can capture.”
- “Thank you for making this team better just by being on it.”
- “Your willingness to help without being asked matters.”
- “I noticed the extra care you put into this, and I’m grateful.”
- “Thank you for trusting the process even when it was slow.”
- “Your positive attitude is contagious, and we needed it.”
- “I’m thankful you speak up when something feels off.”
- “Thank you for being someone this team can count on.”
- “Your quiet reliability is a bigger gift than you may realize.”
- “I’m grateful for the effort no one else saw but me.”
- “Thank you for choosing patience over frustration today.”
Part 9Fueling Ambition and Creativity
Dreams push us beyond ordinary thinking. They help workers envision possibilities that might seem out of reach at first.
- “Your dreams are the blueprints of tomorrow’s achievements.”
- “The biggest adventures start with the smallest dreams.”
- “Dream bigger than yesterday.”
- “Let your imagination guide your work.”
- “Today’s wild dream is tomorrow’s breakthrough.”
- “The distance between impossible and possible lies in your dreams.”
- “Great innovations begin as whispers in dreamers’ minds.”
- “Your dreams are valid roadmaps to success.”
- “The courage to dream creates paths others cannot see.”
- “Dreams don’t work unless you do.”
- “Every great achievement was once just a dream.”
- “Dream with your eyes open.”
- “When you stop dreaming, you stop growing.”
- “Your dreams deserve your daily effort.”
- “Dreams plant the seeds of tomorrow’s reality.”
- “The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams.”
- “Dare to dream, then dare to do.”
- “Dreamers change the world while others watch.”
- “Let your dreams be bigger than your fears.”
- “Dreams give wings to the work of your hands.”
Encouraging Creative Thinking and Exploration
Creativity thrives in workplaces that welcome new ideas. Employees need to feel safe exploring different approaches and taking calculated risks.
- “Curiosity is the compass that leads to innovation.”
- “The answers you seek hide in questions you haven’t asked yet.”
- “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”
- “Question assumptions to find new answers.”
- “Look at old problems through new lenses.”
- “The most valuable skill is knowing when to break the rules.”
- “Innovation happens at the edges of comfort zones.”
- “Creativity is seeing what everyone else sees but thinking differently.”
- “The best ideas come from playful minds.”
- “Your unique perspective is your greatest asset.”
- “Mistakes are just unexpected discoveries.”
- “Creativity thrives where judgment pauses.”
- “The most interesting paths aren’t on any map.”
- “Wonder leads to wandering leads to discovery.”
- “Questions matter more than answers.”
- “Imagination transforms ordinary work into extraordinary results.”
- “Creativity is connecting dots others don’t see.”
- “Every great solution began as a curious thought.”
- “The most powerful tool is a mind open to possibilities.”
- “Innovation rarely happens in isolation—share your ideas.”
Part 10Motivational Phrases for Embracing Change at Work
Change at work, a reorganization, a new system, a shifting deadline, tends to trigger resistance before it triggers buy-in. That resistance is a normal response to uncertainty, not a sign that someone is difficult or unwilling. Phrases that acknowledge the discomfort of change, rather than pretending it does not exist, tend to land better than blanket optimism.
- “Change feels uncomfortable right before it feels like growth.”
- “We don’t need to love this change to handle it well.”
- “Every system we now rely on was once the new, unfamiliar one.”
- “Adapting is a skill, and you’re building it right now.”
- “The old way worked until it didn’t. This is how progress happens.”
- “Flexibility today builds resilience for tomorrow.”
- “We can hold onto what matters while letting go of what doesn’t.”
- “Uncertainty is uncomfortable, and we can move through it together.”
- “The team that adapts fastest usually wins.”
- “This transition is temporary. Our commitment to each other isn’t.”
- “Change reveals who we are when things aren’t easy.”
- “New systems take time to feel natural. Give it time.”
- “We are not starting over. We are building on what we know.”
- “Every change we’ve handled before prepared us for this one.”
- “Progress rarely feels smooth while it’s happening.”
Part 11Phrases for Determination
Stories of Entrepreneurs and Their Path to Success
Many entrepreneurs faced significant setbacks before achieving their dreams. Their stories teach us about persistence and unwavering determination.
- “Fall seven times, stand up eight.”
- “The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment.”
- “Your determination today leads to your success tomorrow.”
- “Challenges are just opportunities in disguise.”
- “Every ‘no’ brings you closer to a ‘yes’.”
- “What seems impossible today will become your reality tomorrow.”
- “Success belongs to those who refuse to be defeated.”
- “The harder you work for something, the greater you’ll feel when you achieve it.”
- “Your persistence will outlast their resistance.”
- “Turn your can’ts into cans and dreams into plans.”
- “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that airplanes take off against the wind.”
- “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little ‘extra’.”
- “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
- “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”
- “Vision without execution is just hallucination.”
- “Progress is impossible without change.”
- “The obstacle is the way.”
- “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.”
- “Action is the foundational key to all success.”
- “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
Exploring the Journey of Esteemed Creators and Innovators
Creative innovators often face unique challenges that require special kinds of determination. Their journeys highlight the importance of believing in your vision.
- “Creativity takes courage.”
- “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
- “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
- “If you’re not failing, you’re not trying hard enough.”
- “Good things come to those who hustle.”
- “The secret to getting ahead is getting started.”
- “Make it simple, but significant.”
- “Your imagination is your preview of life’s coming attractions.”
- “Be stubborn about your goals, but flexible about your methods.”
- “Great things never came from comfort zones.”
- “The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”
- “Perfectionism is the enemy of progress.”
- “Don’t find fault, find a remedy.”
- “Dreams don’t work unless you do.”
- “Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”
- “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
- “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.”
- “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”
- “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
- “The expert in anything was once a beginner.”
Part 12Taking Calculated Risks
Risk-taking fuels growth. When people step outside their comfort zones, they find new opportunities. Smart risks can lead to big rewards at work.
Some motivational phrases to encourage calculated risk-taking:
- “The biggest risk is taking no risk at all.”
- “Growth and comfort rarely share the same space.”
- “Calculated risks turn impossibilities into possibilities.”
- “Every success story begins with the courage to try.”
- “Safe choices rarely make history.”
- “Progress demands courage to face uncertainty.”
- “Behind every achievement stands someone who dared.”
- “The path to innovation is paved with smart risks.”
- “Greatness awaits beyond your comfort zone.”
- “Courage turns challenges into achievements.”
- “Risk is the price of admission to opportunity.”
- “Change starts with one brave decision.”
- “Fortune favors the prepared mind that takes action.”
- “Small risks today build courage for bigger ones tomorrow.”
- “Your greatest potential lives just beyond your fear.”
- “Every risk teaches something valuable.”
- “When prepared, risk becomes opportunity.”
- “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra courage.”
- “Smart risks create remarkable results.”
- “Today’s calculated risk could be tomorrow’s success story.”
A calculated risk differs from a reckless one mainly in preparation. Before repeating any of these phrases to a team member who is hesitating, it helps to ask what information would make the decision feel safer, and whether that information is actually available. Encouragement works best when it follows a real assessment of the downside, rather than replacing it.
Part 13Motivational Phrases to Beat Burnout and Stress
Burnout does not respond well to generic hustle language. Telling someone who is running on empty to “push harder” tends to backfire, because the problem is not a lack of willpower but a lack of recovery. The phrases that help most in this territory point toward rest, boundaries, and perspective rather than more output.
- “Rest is not the opposite of productivity. It’s part of it.”
- “You are allowed to slow down without losing your worth.”
- “A tired mind can’t do its best work. Protect your energy.”
- “Saying no to one thing is saying yes to your capacity.”
- “You don’t have to earn your rest through exhaustion.”
- “Recovery is a strategy, not a weakness.”
- “Your worth isn’t measured by how tired you are.”
- “It’s okay to close the laptop before everything feels finished.”
- “Sustainable pace beats short bursts of burnout.”
- “Taking a breath is not the same as giving up.”
- “You can care about your work without sacrificing yourself for it.”
- “A short pause now prevents a longer break later.”
- “Boundaries protect the energy you need to do good work.”
- “You’re allowed to ask for help before you reach your limit.”
- “Progress made slowly still counts as progress.”
If these phrases feel needed on a regular basis rather than occasionally, that pattern is often worth raising with a manager directly, since ongoing burnout usually points to workload or staffing issues that words alone cannot fix.
Part 14How to Use Motivational Phrases Effectively at Work
A phrase repeated too often loses its meaning quickly. The teams that get the most value from motivational language tend to be selective about when they use it, and intentional about pairing words with real action.
Choosing the Right Phrase for the Moment
- Match the tone to the situation. A phrase about bold risk-taking can feel out of place right after a team has just had a setback.
- Favor specific phrases over generic ones when addressing an individual. “Your persistence outlasted the resistance on this one” lands harder than a vague quote about perseverance.
- Reserve high-energy phrases for genuine milestones. Saving the biggest words for the biggest moments keeps them meaningful.
- Read the room before sharing anything upbeat. A team that is frustrated or exhausted often needs acknowledgment before encouragement.
Where to Share Motivational Phrases at Work
- Team chat channels, at the start or close of the week
- Email signatures, rotated occasionally so they stay fresh
- Whiteboards or shared screens in meeting rooms
- One-on-one notes tied to a specific piece of feedback
- Recognition posts in a company-wide channel or newsletter
- Onboarding materials for new hires, as a small welcome touch
Creating Your Own Motivational Phrases
Borrowed phrases work well as a starting point, but a phrase built from a team’s own language and shared experience often carries more weight than one pulled from a generic list. A few ways to build original phrases:
- Turn a recent team story into a short line, referencing the specific project or challenge by name.
- Base the phrase on a value the team already talks about, such as honesty, speed, or care for customers.
- Keep it short enough to remember without looking it up, ideally under fifteen words.
- Test it out loud before writing it down. Phrases that sound natural in conversation tend to stick better than ones that only work on paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some short motivational words for work that start with T?
Words like tenacity, trust, thrive, triumph, and teamwork are common choices because they capture qualities that matter in almost any workplace. They work well as headers, hashtags, or quick answers to a “what’s your focus” prompt, and they carry meaning without needing a full sentence around them.
How often should motivational phrases be shared with a team?
There is no fixed rule, but frequency matters less than timing. A phrase shared right after a real event, a hard week, a big win, a rough setback, tends to mean more than one posted on a routine schedule. Many teams find that once or twice a week, tied to something specific, feels genuine rather than repetitive.
How can I use motivational phrases without sounding scripted?
Pair the phrase with a concrete detail about the person or situation. Instead of sending a quote on its own, add a sentence naming what the person actually did. The phrase becomes a frame for a real observation rather than a stand-alone slogan.
Do motivational phrases actually improve workplace morale?
On their own, a phrase will not fix a broken process or an unfair workload. Paired with genuine recognition, clear communication, and consistent follow-through, though, short encouraging language can reinforce a positive culture and help people feel noticed, which does support morale over time.
What are good motivational phrases for Monday mornings?
Phrases that frame the new week as a fresh start tend to work well, since they tap into the natural motivation boost many people feel after a weekend break. Lines like “a new week means a new set of possibilities” or “reset your focus, then watch your results follow” help set a forward-looking tone without pressure.
How can leaders use these phrases without seeming insincere?
Leaders build credibility with encouraging language when it follows visible action, not when it substitutes for it. Naming a specific behavior, trusting someone’s judgment on a real decision, or acknowledging a hard conversation tends to land better than a general motivational quote delivered on its own.
Where should motivational phrases be posted around the workplace?
Common spots include team chat channels, meeting room whiteboards, email signatures, one-on-one notes, and company newsletters. The best placement depends on whether the goal is a quick daily boost or a lasting reminder that people will see repeatedly over weeks.
Can motivational phrases help with burnout?
They can offer a moment of perspective, but they cannot replace rest, reasonable workloads, or support from a manager. If encouraging phrases are needed on a near-daily basis just to get through the workday, that pattern is often a sign that the underlying workload or staffing situation needs attention.