Your business is only as good as its workers. If you’ve noticed a drop in morale lately, the last thing you want it to do is treacle down to your clients. Happy workers are productive and create more sales, so it’s worth putting effort into boosting morale. Before you start doing anything, it’s important to form a strong bond with your workers so they know they can come to you with problems. Knowing why their morale is low will be your first step towards boosting it. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Encourage Fun
No employee wants to wake up in the morning and dread going to work because the environment is dull and boring. It’s important to encourage your employees to have a few jokes around the office. You can do this by holding competitions and giving out small prizes, holding team building activity days and putting aside a budget for Christmas parties etc. It’s not a way of showing your staff that fun is allowed but it’s also a way to create a strong team that work well together.
Reward Good Work
How will your employees know they’re doing well unless you tell them? Praising employees for good work is one of the easiest things you can do to boost morale. An employee who is never told how good their work is or how valued they are isn’t going to feel appreciated. Doing something as simple as calling an employee into your office and making positive comments about a specific piece of work can do wonders. You could also try bringing in cupcakes to share around the office or giving out bonuses to employees who are the most productive.
Extra Training
There are often times when morale is low with certain individuals. It may be that they feel bored with in their jobs. After a few years of being in the same position they may feel stuck in the mud. This can often be resolved by giving those employees some additional challenges or responsibilities. Your employees may need some extra training for this, but that’s easily resolved with online learning. For example, an adult can easily enrol on a course to complete an MBA finance online degree. You could then invite the employee to take on an accounting role within the business.
Say ‘Thank You’
It sounds so simple but many employers forget to do it. As a business owner, it’s easy to get consumed with what the business needs and bury your head in your tasks. Getting out of your office and addressing all of your employees to say thank you for their hard work could make it worth their while. It’s a small thing to know that your employer is appreciative of the work you do, but it’s so important.
Problem Solving
As an employer, you also need to be a problem solver. Many employees struggle because they aren’t quite sure of how to get the most out of their tools. Learn to spot people who are struggling and give a helping hand.