Only 32% of employees in the U.S. are engaged, which shows that managers must find ways to boost morale in the workplace.
Prioritizing your team’s morale is essential for retaining employees and driving productivity. But, if you’re currently struggling in this area, it’s difficult knowing which steps to take. Maybe that’s why you’re here; you want to improve employee morale and need a nudge in the right direction.
Sounds like you? No worries, we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to boost employee morale.
Be Transparent
Managers can easily improve company morale by being transparent with their employees. For instance, if there’s been a slump in sales, inform your team, as it shows that you value their opinion. Also, when more brains are tackling a problem, there’s a higher chance that a team member will have the solution.
Communicate Often
Saying that managers should also communicate with their team often. But avoid shooting off emails throughout the day, as it can overwhelm employees and impact their productivity levels. Instead, use a tool like Slack where everyone can message in real time.
Promote a Healthy Work-Life Balance
A positive workplace encourages team members to have a healthy work-life balance. Although productivity is paramount, remember that employees are humans and have their own lives. Because of this, managers should introduce flexible working hours and offer paid time off when their staff needs it.
Welcome Employee Feedback
An effective way of nurturing employee relationships is by asking for their feedback. You can either send out an anonymous survey with questions or leave a box outside of your office where team members can share their comments. The beauty of this is it brings everyone together and shows that you appreciate their opinion regarding the workplace.
Arrange Team-Building Activities
Businesses struggling with employee motivation should add team-building activities into the mix. These are crucial because they strengthen everyone’s relationship with one another and remind employees that they’re part of a team. You can also choose how far you want to go, whether it’s a monthly free lunch or an action-packed day playing paintball.
Offer Employee Growth Opportunities
Another method for driving employee productivity is by offering opportunities for career growth. This could be a free webinar, inviting an industry-related guest speaker, or even subsidized courses. Not only will it show that you care about your team’s growth, but they can apply these newly developed skills in the workplace, making it a win-win.
Recognize Employees’ Success
Get in the habit of recognizing your team’s success by creating an employee recognition program.
Make sure that you celebrate every win, regardless of how small, as it will boost morale. You can either decide to give out physical gifts or treat the winner to a half-day of work. If you’re struggling with gifts, click the link to learn more.
Introduce a Health and Wellness Program
Prioritizing your team’s mental and physical well-being is an underrated way of boosting morale. Employees spend most of their day behind their computers, so give them a discounted gym membership or transform the office into a studio where everyone can get active.
If you’re struggling with participants, create a competition by giving out Fitbits and seeing who has been the most active that week. And of course, reward the winner with a prize.
Aside from a program, cultivate a culture of positive thinking in the workplace. This is where leaders encourage their team members and remain optimistic even in the most challenging times.
Consider the Office Decor
Although it sounds obvious, your office’s decor and layout will affect your team’s morale. At the very least, welcome natural light as it opens the space while keeping everyone comfortable as they’re behind computers. You should also dot plants around the room because they purify the air while encouraging creative thinking.
You should also invest in ergonomic furniture for your team. For instance, invest in adjustable desks and office chairs that offer lumber support so that your employees are comfortable.
Further, managers should go the extra mile by making their team comfortable. You could offer a steady stream of healthy snacks and coffee throughout the day as it shows employees that your company is a great place to work.
Effectively Delegate Projects
Managers should never overwhelm employees with a workload, especially if they’re currently being bombarded. If you notice that an individual is struggling, it’s important to delegate projects properly. You should also choose the right people for the job, as it will boost productivity and let employees know that their work is appreciated.
Review Your Company’s Perks
Companies should offer perks to their team as it’s an effective way of boosting morale. But the key is to regularly review these so that everyone is catered for.
To do this, send out a survey or add a poll to your social media pages where employees can share their feedback. For instance, popular perks include paid parental leave and private health insurance.
Introduce Summer Fridays
Depending on your office’s work hours, test out “Summer Fridays.” This is where you offer team members half-day Fridays during the warmer months. Rewarding team members with several hours of personal time helps them create a healthy work-life balance and prioritize their mental well-being.
Boost Employee Morale Today
Hopefully, you’ll use these tips to improve employee morale in the workplace.
There are many ways to boost morale, such as encouraging employee feedback and delegating projects to the right team members. Managers should also offer career growth opportunities and elevate the office’s layout. Good luck!
Good read? Awesome! Then, check out the rest of our blog for more tips and tricks.
