Introduction
The workplace is a great place to build and maintain friendships, collaborate on projects and get things done. But, like any other environment, the workplace can be stressful at times and that stress can impact employee morale. The good news: You don’t have to wait for your company’s HR department or leadership team to implement a strategy to improve morale. You can boost your employees’ spirits by incorporating these ten tips into your routine this week!
Encourage employees to be themselves in the workplace.
Encourage employees to be themselves in the workplace.
It’s easy for managers and leaders to fall into a trap of trying to change or mold employees into what they think is best for them, but this can often lead to resentment and frustration on both sides. Instead, encourage your team members to be themselves and do things their own way–even if that means doing things differently than you would do them!
Encourage flexibility in scheduling so that people aren’t always working at peak times (i.e., 9-5) or during off hours when everyone else isn’t available either (i.e., weekends). This will help make everyone feel more valued as well as allow them more opportunities for work/life balance if needed.
Be transparent about the company’s vision and strategy.
Transparency is an important component of employee engagement. When you’re transparent about your company’s vision and strategy, it helps employees feel like they’re part of the team and that their ideas are valued. It also helps them know where the company is headed so they can make better decisions about their own career paths.
Model good behavior in the office.
- Be a good role model.
- Set a good example for others.
- Be polite and respectful to everyone, from your boss to the janitorial staff. Don’t be afraid to admit when you are wrong or apologize for any mistakes that you may have made; this will help set the tone for how people treat each other in the workplace and ensure that everyone feels like they can work together harmoniously toward common goals instead of feeling like they are adversaries out to get one another’s jobs (and therefore morale).
- Don’t gossip or spread rumors–it only serves as negative energy in an already stressful environment where employees need all the positive reinforcement they can get!
Make connections between employees’ actions and their results.
Connecting employees’ actions to their results is one of the most effective ways to boost morale in the workplace. It’s important that you make it clear how their individual and team efforts are helping the company succeed, and also give them examples of good and bad results (so they know what you expect).
Make sure that your expectations are specific and measurable so that each employee can understand exactly what’s expected of them in terms of performance, productivity and overall output. You should also provide examples of how certain behaviors will lead to better outcomes for everyone involved–and how other behaviors might hinder progress or even cause harm if they aren’t corrected immediately.
Finally: reward those who exceed expectations! If an employee has saved time through efficient work practices or increased sales through innovative ideas then show him/her some love by giving him/her some extra vacation days or a bonus check at year-end
Give feedback that’s specific, timely and personalized.
- Specific, timely and personalized.
- In person if possible.
- In private.
- Positively: It’s important to give feedback in a way that doesn’t cause the employee to feel like they’re being attacked or criticized; instead, try to focus on what you’d like them to do next time so they can improve their performance over time!
Ask employees how they’re doing and listen to their answers.
“How are you doing?”
Ask them as soon as possible. Ask them when they’re leaving the office, or at the end of the day, or during lunch. You’ll be surprised by how much more open people are when they aren’t in their normal place of work; it’s like asking someone if they want to go get coffee instead of having a conversation over email or Slack. You can also ask them via email if that’s more comfortable for both parties involved–but only after having asked in person first!
This will give you a better idea of what your team needs from management and/or leadership at large so that morale doesn’t suffer because no one feels valued enough at work (which leads us into our next tip).
Foster a respectful working environment by being open-minded, polite and attentive to people of all backgrounds and cultures.
Fostering a respectful working environment by being open-minded, polite and attentive to people of all backgrounds and cultures is an important part of employee morale. Here are some tips for fostering this kind of atmosphere:
- Be open to new ideas
- Show respect for other employees’ opinions
- Offer praise when you see someone doing something well
Give praise liberally but keep criticism constructive, focused and direct when it’s warranted.
When it comes to criticism, it’s important that you strike the right balance. A little bit of well-placed constructive criticism can be very effective in improving employee performance. However, if you overdo it or use negative feedback as a means of punishing employees for small mistakes or simple oversights (which is often how bosses use criticism), then morale will suffer greatly and your employees may feel like they have no reason left to work hard.
In order for criticism not only be effective but also appreciated by employees as well as yourself, it needs to follow these guidelines:
- Criticism should be specific and direct. Don’t make general statements such as “You’re doing poorly at work” when there are specific tasks being performed poorly; instead point out what exactly went wrong so that everyone knows exactly what needs improvement and where improvements can be made next time around.”
Encourage team members to take breaks during their work day – even if it’s just a ten-minute walk around the block!
Taking a break during your work day is important for your health, but it can be hard to find the time. Here are some tips for making sure you take a break and re-energize:
- Set aside specific times for breaks and stick to them! If you don’t set aside time, it’s easy for other priorities in your day (checking emails, responding to messages) to get in the way of taking breaks.
- Don’t feel guilty about stepping away from your desk and chatting with coworkers. A short walk around the block or some fresh air will help keep you focused on getting things done!
- Make sure that no matter what kind of break you’re taking–whether it’s lunch with friends or just 15 minutes spent reading an article online–you won’t be tempted by distractions like phones or laptops while doing so!
You can improve morale by incorporating these 10 tips into your daily routine this week!
- The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure that your employees are happy and engaged at work. This is crucial because employee morale affects productivity, which in turn affects the bottom line.
- Next, look for ways to improve communication between managers and employees by holding regular meetings and providing feedback on job performance as well as goals for the future.
- Finally, take advantage of technology like Slack or Google Hangouts by using them for virtual team meetings so that everyone can participate regardless of where they’re located (or if they’re even working remotely).
Conclusion
We hope these tips have inspired you to make a positive change in your workplace. We know it can be hard to get started, but if you’re willing to try something new and invest some time into improving morale, we believe that the results will speak for themselves!
