Employee morale is one of the biggest driving factors when it comes to the success of your business. Having a team of happy, motivated employees who are more likely to do well and succeed will positively impact not only productivity levels but also your bottom line. Alternatively, low employee morale leads to a decrease in productivity and efficiency, high levels of absenteeism and increased employee turnover rates, which has huge knock on effects on a number of areas of your business.
It’s important for business leaders to recognise where their current employee morale levels are and what, if anything, can be done to improve them if this is required. If your business is suffering from low employee morale levels and you’re finding your employees are becoming burned out, then there are a number of ways in which you can boost morale within your team.
What Impact Does Positive Employee Morale Have On A Business?
As mentioned above, happy, engaged and motivated employees are the leading driving force behind a successful business.
- Motivated employees create a culture of increased productivity in the workplace, as well as improving overall efficiency and quality of work produced.
- When team morale is high, your business is in a stronger and more protected position. Should your company come into hard times, an engaged team will be more likely to increase the effort they put in and take every step they can to help you succeed.
- A successful team can help your business to attract and retain top talent, further strengthening your business. Positive work environments and a team of happy employees can be one of your greatest assets when it comes to hiring new members.
- High employee morale can reduce your overall business costs. It is essentially a domino effect, as high employee morale and productivity then result in fewer periods of absenteeism, workplace accidents and less paid time off.
If your team’s morale is dipping then it is time to implement some changes. Rather than thinking of the below methods as one-time solutions, you should look to integrate them as part of a permanent change within your company culture.
Align Your Company Values and Employees
A number of businesses assume that employee morale is based on things such as free food or drink, gifts, bar tabs and football tables. But, it is so much more than that. A much more important consideration that businesses should consider is whether your team is a good fit for your business goals and values and the only way in which you can get here is through using clear and consistent communication. With your team, look to articulate exactly what you see as your business’s mission, goals and values. It is critical that, as a business leader, you are reinforcing this to them whilst sharing and celebrating progress, or understanding more about setbacks, along the way.
If you want your team to be on the same page as you, then being as transparent as possible only leads to a stronger and more integrated team. You shouldn’t attempt to hide any problems with your team or look to avoid certain conversation topics if morale is low. This can, in many cases, do more damage than good. Generally speaking, close teams of employees will always prefer open communication and honesty, even when everything isn’t going smoothly. Inform your team about any company updates, customer or client feedback and any new protocols you are looking to implement within the company structure.
This should also work likewise. In order to build an effective team, you want to ensure that should they have any problems, they know who they can go to in order to discuss further. This could be when they feel that employee morale is taking a dip and have some suggestions as to what could be done, or simply if they have any work successes that they are looking to share. It’s important to have clear and open communication channels for a boosted and engaged team, from both sides.
Show Appreciation
Appreciation is a feeling that we all crave – it is a human emotion, after all – and your team is no different. Be sure to recognise your staff for achievements and celebrate when a job has been done well. This ensures that your employees feel seen and recognised for their work, which then only helps to boost morale and keep them feeling inspired and motivated to continue.
Rather than sitting around waiting for Employee Appreciation Day and showing up with stale donuts, be proactive with your appreciation approach and show it as and when it is required.
Freshen Up The Office
Following the pandemic, where a number of teams were forced to work in isolation from home, there has been a growing number of teams readjusting the ways in which they work. If your team works from your office, whether on a flexible schedule or permanently, then take a look around. Could it do with a freshen-up? Is it perhaps full of clutter that might affect morale? If your team has grown or changed since pre-pandemic times, think about if the space reflects where your team are now. It could be that it is in need of a full office fit out, or perhaps just a fresh coat of paint and some new furniture.
If your office is made up of different spaces for your team to use, then it might be best to do it on a space-by-space basis so that you can get a feel for what your team really wants from their workplace and where these changes will be most felt. Remember, the strongest teams are built outside of the standard work hours, so take a look at your communal or common work spaces. If they lack colour and inspiration or are just generally a bit tired and dull, then start here. Freshen up the space, make it more comfortable to be in and create a space which your employees can actually use.
If your main office space is underutilised, cluttered and messy, then this too can have huge effects on your employee’s morale levels. Get back to basics by getting rid of as much clutter as you can, freshening up the space with a new lick of paint and adding new office furniture to create a workplace your employees will enjoy coming to every day.
Not every workplace is blessed with outdoor spaces, but if you are, then it’s worth revisiting this area too. These spots can often become neglected if underutilized as a space to enjoy, but with a bit of a freshen up, it can actually become an integral part of your office. It’s well known that having access to natural light during the day can improve employee productivity and morale, so having a nice outdoor space where they can take breaks, have calls or enjoy lunch is worth the investment. Be sure to consider what best suits your business with an outdoor space. For example, artificial grass in Melbourne-based offices is a good idea due to the weather, or in colder areas, spaces with a heater may be utilised for those wanting fresh air during the day.