“You can always find reasons to work. There will always be one more thing to do. But when people don’t take time out, they stop being productive. They stop being happy, and that affects the morale of everyone around them.”- Carisa Bianchi
It’s been an unexpected, relentless, and crazy year. People have spent a lot of time moving between the workplace and working from home, then back to the workplace then back working from home. During this time it is easy for workplace morale to drop, and this will no doubt jeopardize productivity when employees aren’t encouraged.
Morale within the workplace determines the overall satisfaction, productivity, efficiency, and confidence that employees feel at work. When employees feel positive about their work environment, employee morale is high which makes going to work exceptionally easier and the outcome and quality of the work are of a much higher standard.
I’ve worked at companies where there was consistent low morale. When employees would arrive looking like they have already done a full day’s work, fed up and counting the minutes until the end-of-day. This is no fun for anyone. A company relies on its employees to survive, and with them not being happy the company will face a decrease in productivity and high employee turnover.
I was fortunate enough to move to a new company and join the Tyler Wren team during this unprecedented time, and whilst joining a new team is always nerve-wracking, this move was made relatively easy due to the positive atmosphere and relaxed energy within the workplace (and having office dogs helps). From day one, it was noticeable that the morale within the team is extremely high. This is a team effort, communication is key, allowing flexible work-from-home days, regular reviews, and treating each other with respect.
Ways to boost morale
Encourage communication
If you feel that morale is low, communicate with your team to source the issue. Hold regular employee reviews to prevent communication from lacking, and to gain a full understanding of your team. Providing honest and transparent communication about issues and achievements is important to employees, they will feel included and provides a huge morale boost.
Also, check-in with your employees regularly, ask them:
How are you feeling about your team/manager?
Do you need help with anything?
Are you comfortable and happy? If not, how can I help?
Make it a family environment
You don’t need to know your employees’ lives inside and out. But, encouraging them to communicate with each other, expand teamwork, and build mutual trust, this allows morale to grow as employees become comfortable around each other.
Be accommodating to employees schedules
People have lives outside of the workplace. They have families, friends, and personal commitments to deal with. Maybe they have kids to be taken to school after business hours start? Do they need to be at home 1 day a week for personal reasons? Allowing your employees the freedom to work remotely if possible, or giving room for flexible work arrangements could determine their morale.
Take your breaks!!!
This is one of the most important morale boosters. Did you take a lunch break today? Or yesterday? The answer is probably no. Apparently, only 1 in 5 people take a genuine lunch break. Whilst most workers will eat at their desks. At Tyler Wren, we are encouraged to eat away from our desks and get out of the office, even for a short walk, because changing environments is important for productivity and mental well-being.
More ways that can support high morale in the workplace
- Treat employees with respect
- Offer regular coaching
- Provide employee recognition
- Allow employees to develop and expand their professional skills
- Get employee feedback
The bottom line is when you start to realise that workplace morale is low, whether it be poor performance or little communication, it’s time to do something about it. Make it a priority to push a positive change and boost the morale of the team, because morale and attitude are the fundamental ingredients to success.