Employees are the pillars that hold up any business and without them, it would be hard for that business to thrive and continue in the market. Proper work politics can make or break that relationship between company and employee, and it can be quite stressful when you see a decline in morale.
If you are noticing your employees’ morale declining and are getting worried, maybe it is time to establish ways to increase it, which we will be talking about in this article.
The reason motivation is important for a workforce is because it leads to higher productivity rates and a better sense of self for the employee. This means the work they are putting out is better in quality and their ability to work more is sturdier.
We will also be looking at what might decrease your employees’ motivation in the first place to better instate solutions for it.
What decreases employee morale?
Not giving out clear instructions and telling your employees your expectations gives a sense of instability and may make your employees demotivated due to not having any guidelines. Just like a plant needs a seed to grow, employees need an initial idea to continue that flow.
On the topic of communication, being dishonest is also a big fault. Saying something rather than doing the opposite will not set a good example for your employees. It is also demotivated from an employee’s point of view and can easily lead to them losing trust in the company and giving up on it easily.
When bonding as a work team you get to know your coworkers better and that allows members to better adapt to each other and not feel alone. Enjoying working is also a big factor that comes from bonding.
In opposition to bonding is being overbearing, which greatly restricts creativity and problem-solving for your employees and makes them feel uncomfortable and incompetent in most cases.
Recognition plays a key role in maintaining employee motivation, and the lack of that may lead to decreases in work quality and temperament. Even a simple “thank you” or “great job” can suffice.
Staying realistic means you aren’t overworking your labor force and not destroying their confidence either. Dealing with an incompetent boss can oftentimes lead to employees simply leaving for a better opportunity.
Meetings are also crucial in maintaining an organized and transparent workflow between higher-ups and employees, so make sure to regularly schedule meetings to discuss important issues and future prospects.
How to increase employee morale
As mentioned above, communication is one of the most important things between a team working at or running a business. If you set clear goals and listen to their ideas you will get benefits in return, including accomplished projects and efficiency.
Asking your employees about how they feel about their superiors, their temperament towards work, and whether they need help with anything shows them you are trying to make an open space where employees are respected and valued.
If there are problems regarding work quality and satisfaction, don’t be afraid to vocalize those concerns. Honesty is important with any human relationship, even a professional one, so creating a space where people can talk freely and reasonably is essential for employee satisfaction.
Highlighting the worth your employees hold at your business motivates them to become more productive and also stay loyal to the company, especially when they are rewarded for work that exceeds expectations.
By underlining an employee’s importance, you increase work engagement (boosting productivity) and higher customer satisfaction since your employees will be more upbeat and more alert to maintaining customer satisfaction for the business they work at.
As mentioned earlier, listening to your employees and receiving feedback all aid in workplace morale, especially if you also thank them for it.
This doesn’t mean you have to do everything the feedback offers, but rationally choosing to make efficient and advantageous decisions helps your employees feel heard and also betters the overall work environment.
That feedback also increases job development for your employees, especially since about two-thirds of employees tend to feel they aren’t receiving enough information to further better their workflow.
As for employee assistance, most if not all businesses are recommended to run an employee assistance program to maintain a healthy work-life balance for their employees and help diminish general stress.
Mental well-being is very important and affects anyone, so offering a platform for employees to heal or relieve issues they may be experiencing offers a healthy work ethic.
For team building, start by creating motivation and encouraging collaboration amongst employees. This includes solving problems as a team, working towards the main goal as a team, and being open to new ways others may suggest.
Some examples of this could be office trivia or simple meetings.
Incentivizing employees to work and evolve is also synonymous with brand success. Allowing employees to work from home or helping them get to seminars regarding their profession are all ways you can continue cheering your employees on.
You also shouldn’t be afraid to fire a certain employee if they are endangering or decreasing the whole team’s morale. Unfortunately, if someone isn’t fit to be a part of your workforce it is in you and your team’s interests to not include that individual.
