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12 Ways to Boost Employee Morale (and Why it Matters)

October 10, 2018 Mike MacDonald

It is not difficult to find ways to boost employee morale, and need not cost an absolute fortune either. Learn 12 ways to boost employee morale below without spending a fortune.

Not all bosses realize the importance of good employee morale among their team, especially when they’re new to being in charge. They do not seem to understand that happy teams work better and are more productive. This in the long run means more profits for them, and a workplace that is pleasant to be in.

Say Thank You To Your Team to boost employee moral

Research has shown that appreciation of the work they do comes far above earning more money when workers were asked what was most important about the relationship between them and their employer.

You can show appreciation is many ways, but most of the time what means more than anything is a simple ‘thank you’. This is because it lets them know that you have noticed the effort they have made, and that they are not just a number after all.

Listen To Them as an effective way to how to boost employee moral with no cost

Always find time to listen to what your employees and team have to say. There are several reasons for this. It could be that as they are actually working in the workplace itself, they have come up with an idea to make it more efficient and profitable.

There may be a problem with a particular member of staff that is slowing production, or they may have a personal problem they need a couple of hours off to sort out. The reasons can be good or bad, but if a member of your staff wants to talk to you, make sure you listen.

Team Building ideas to boost employee morale

Team building exercises are proving to be a very worthwhile investment for most employers. Things such as treasure hunts where they have to unpick the clues together, or any other games that shows them how to work as a team. Team building can often show who the leaders and who the followers are, and this will become apparent to the staff as well as to you.

You could then get them to work as a team in your workplace, and there is no doubt you will find that the slower ones are helped along by the others, and any task with be completed more efficiently and quickly.

Anyone that was perhaps feeling a bit lost working on their own, will be much happier working as part of a team.

Another great team building idea is to plan a team trip together. This probably won’t be a regular occurrence, but having an annual trip for either top producers in your organization or anyone in your team and their families is a great way to build a tight nit community and to boost morale.

Take On A Problem For Them

You will boost the morale of your employees to no end if they feel you and them are actually ‘us’ all working together. You can demonstrate this by taking away a problem or two and doing it for them.

If there is a troublesome client, for instance, deal with them yourself. If the staff is having trouble getting into a new software program, be there to help them solve the issue.

Show them that no job is beneath you, and should not be beneath them either. Working with them will encourage them to work harder, and they will feel good that they have a boss who cares.

As the leader of your team and business be willing to do what you ask of your employees or team members under you.

Ensure They Take Proper Breaks

A proper break refreshes an employee, and it should be right away from their desk or the piece of equipment they are working with.

Especially at lunch time when the break is a bit longer, they should be encouraged to go a the very nice restroom you have of course provided, or to take a walk in the fresh air. Then they will return to their job much more relaxed and ready for a good afternoon’s work.

Rotate Schedules

If your business is open long hours, your employees may be working different shifts. It could be that you have one lot of staff for night work and another for the daytime hours.

This can be particularly so in the case of restaurants where there could be one group of workers handling the lunch time meals and another doing the evening ones. Rotating schedule benefits the staff because it gives them time off at varying times, and it is fairer where tips are concerned if one sitting is much busier than the other.

This method gives all the employees the opportunity to learn how to cope with the busier periods, and gives you time to train new employees in the quieter times.

Of course, in an office or factory the different time zones do not matter so much, but from a staff point of view it does mean they all get a turn at having their evenings or days free. This is a great way to boost their morale, as they feel at the employees are all as important as one another.

Depending on your business and how it is structured, you may even have options for your team to work at home. This is a great way to improve morale as it can give them more freedom and flexibility while getting the job done.

Birthdays

No one likes working on their birthday, so why not give them the day off, with pay, of course. The staff will love this idea, and be thankful they have such a thoughtful boss.

Perhaps you should also remember the birthday of the business. It is not being suggested that you close for the day, but a few cakes to celebrate perhaps, or may organize a buffet style lunch for everyone. They will appreciate the gesture and it will help to boost their morale.

Incentives and activities to boost employee morale

Incentives work sometimes. It depends what they are and if the staff feel they are worthwhile. Financial bonuses are usually good for production, and although the extra money is always welcome, they do not always do much for morale.

Incentives such as gym memberships, help with childcare, or perhaps finishing early one day a week all seem to be a better way of keeping your employees happy.

Without a doubt, they are all wanting to earn as much as they can, but if they have enough in their paycheck to pay their way and eat, most employees would rather have a couple of extra hours off, or know that they can go to the gym as often as they like without worrying about the cost.

Another great incentive that can boost employee morale or motivate your team is creating production based contests. These could be big incentives like trips, or even smaller self directed incentives like I describe in this video.

Provide Extra Training for ways to boost employee morale

Training them to do tasks they would not normally undertake shows that you value them as an employee. It is always a good idea to have more than one persona able to complete a particular part of a process, and then at holiday times or if the regular worker is ill, an alternative is waiting in the wings.

Have Standing Chats

You should encourage employees to stand and have a chat sometimes, as being socially connected for just a few minutes can help to make everyone feel in a lighter mood. If they chat about work, that is fine but it does not matter if they do not. It is the personal interaction that matters, the subject can be anything.

Change The Scenery

When the staff are all off, perhaps at a weekend, have the workplace decorated so they some back to it shining like a new pin. Having a fresh coat of paint on the walls and ceilings can lighten the moods of your employees a great deal, and will certainly make them feel more at ease.

You could add little extras, such a new waste paper bins and a few plants dotted about the place. Just those two things will make it feel as though you have really made an effort to make them feel good, and they will appreciate that.

Keeping Your Team Happy

A happy team is a busy team, and boosting their morale will help to make them more productive. Find the ways that suit you and your company the best, and then invest as little time money into them. As your team are your biggest asset, it is an investment you will not regret.