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Employee morale is directly related to how satisfied and motivated they are in relation to their work, and I’ve always tried to boost it as much as possible.
Happy employees are productive employees, and productive employees mean we’ll get more done in a smaller time frame.
It took me a while to decide how to make employees happier, and I’ll tell you, it hasn’t been easy.
Ultimately, I’ve found out that you can’t make everyone happy by doing the same thing, and you shouldn’t aim for it either. What you should do is make people as comfortable as possible.
To help you maximize your return on investment (ROI) by boosting employee morale in 2021, I’ll cover 10 fantastic tips and tricks you can use right now. I’ll also outline why boosting confidence is important and what you and your company stand to gain from it.
» Boosting Employee Morale Translates into Productivity
There’s no doubt that a happier employee is a far more productive employee. What made 2020 stand out is that the year was pretty terrible for most people due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Not only has this pandemic taken the lives of many people, but it has also ruined a considerable amount of livelihoods. It’s fair to say that people are still on edge in 2021.
If you want to sand the edge down, the best thing you can do is get people more relaxed at work. It directly translates into more productive employees who perform better, which is good for every business.
» It Helps Team Members Connect with Each Other
High morale in the office is the cornerstone of positive and lasting employee relationships. I’ve been a part of a team for ages, and I can tell you that nothing impacts performance as much as the feeling of camaraderie.
Team Building might sound like a worn-out phrase to many people, but it’s deeply rooted in personal relationships. If the team members like each other, chances are you’ll be the one reaping the benefits.
It’s your responsibility as a manager or team leader to encourage inter-team relationships, and you can do so by:
• Boosting employee morale
• Encouraging employees
• Stimulating with rewards
• Building bonds
• Organising events
Connecting your employees allows for a healthy and productive work environment that works like a well-oiled machine.
» What Causes Low Employee Morale?
Low employee morale can be caused by anything. There’s a general feeling of isolation and mental fatigue caused by the pandemic. Employee morale can also be low because of poor business decisions, improper management, long work hours, constant changes, and many other things.
» Ways to Boost Employee Morale in 2023
Since 2020 was a rough year, boosting employee morale in 2023 isn’t going to be easy. Even though it might seem like a challenging task, the rewards are going to be worth it.
Let’s go over 10 brilliant ways to boost employee morale and ensure a productive and professional 2023.
1. Team building events
Nothing boosts employee morale as much as a positive interaction outside of work. While the pandemic has most of the workforce locked at home, there are still many fun games you can play with your employees online.
Organizing online team-building events such as watch parties, virtual board games, and trivia are all fantastic ways to keep the office together in spirit, even if the team is physically apart at the moment.
2. Transparency and communication
These are stressful times we live in, and it’s fair to assume that employees have a lot on their plates right now. I’ve found that being transparent with your employees is by far the best way to keep them alert and focused, which ultimately leads to heightened morale.
Give your employees as much information on the current state of the business and talk to them regularly. It will reassure them that their job and livelihood are not in jeopardy.
3. Employee education
Another great way to boost morale is through employee training. Since employees are stuck at home, they have more time than ever to work on themselves and their careers.
Employee training will reassure your employees that their jobs are safe, and it will let them advance in their chosen field, preparing them for any challenge that might arise in the future.
With employee training software such as ProProfs, employee training today is easier than ever. Through software like this, you can easily administer courses and track progress for your employees’ education and ensure that everything is going as smoothly as possible.
After all, an educated employee is an asset to a company, and such employees play significant roles in boosting office morale.
4. Trust building
Trust is a fickle state of emotion, especially in the office. New-age companies have a different approach to trust than the corporations of yesterday, and that’s a good thing.
With the pandemic bringing in a tonne of stress to the boardroom table, it’s essential to maintain trust between the employees and the higher-ups.
If your employees trust you, it’s fair to assume that they will have a huge weight lifted off their backs.
Employee relationships built on trust are reassuring. They will help you reach the pinnacle of professional communication, which directly translates into improved morale and more engagement.
5. Taking initiatives
It’s a bit difficult to take initiatives when you don’t have an office fully committed to the work you’re doing. Times are rough, and while the sky seems to be clearing, it’s not going to be sunshine anytime soon.
You have to focus on taking initiatives to get your employees back on track.
There are many ways to do this, but the best one yet is to support your employees. Everyone will have something to say about the current state of affairs, and listening to them can help you determine the best course of action for your employees.
If all is well and you can afford it, both in terms of time and money, support employee initiatives as much as possible.
6. Feedback and encouragement
If you’ve switched from the office to the home workspace, the transition will be rocky, at least initially. Sure, some might adore the fact that they don’t need to suit up and drive to work, but most will feel a bit anxious and boxed in.
This monotony is dangerous and can lead to a downward spiral in employee morale. The answer to this issue is positive reinforcement, encouragement, and feedback.
Giving your employees a continual flow of feedback and pats on the back will boost their personal and professional development.
7. Facilitating growth
Facilitating growth can be done in numerous ways. Mentoring programs, acknowledging accomplishments, reviews, and positive reinforcement are all good options. These will lead to a more streamlined workflow and a positive attitude towards work.
8. Interacting and listening
Interacting with your employees personally and professionally will make them feel acknowledged. It really helps develop a strong interpersonal connection in a professional environment.
Just asking about their day and listening to them for 3-4 minutes during a coffee break is often enough to help them vent their frustration.
9. Stimulating and rewarding
If you’ve been interacting with your team and asking for feedback, you’ll have critical insight into how you should promote, reward, and stimulate them. There’s no be-all-end-all way to do this, so you’ll need to dig deep.
Once you’ve found the appropriate way to nurture and reward each one of your employees, create a coherent reward system.
First, write down all the accomplishments, development milestones, and behaviors you want to reward. You can then come up with several tiers of rewards for different milestones and productivity targets.
10. Leading by example
In the immortal words of Saint Francis of Assisi:
"The deeds you do may be the only sermon some people will hear today."
Employees are always going to connect with people who pave the way for them. They will also oppose authority figures who demand a lot and take on very few tasks themselves.
If you’re going to boost your team’s morale, you’ll need to be a part of the team. In fact, you’ll need to be at the forefront of your team as a leader, not a mere manager.
» Ready to Raise Your Employee Morale?
High employee morale is essential for a thriving work environment. Ensuring that your employees are happy, stimulated, and uplifted leads to a productive workforce and business growth. Augmenting your overall employee morale will give you a golden ticket to:
• Increased alertness and attention to detail
• Better work performance and engagement
• Heightened creativity and problem-solving capabilities
• A happier, healthier, and better work environment
• Increased attendance and participation
• Building employee loyalty
• A shared vision between the team
All of these and more become a reality once you start working on building up employee morale. Remember, one good employee can outshine ten bad employees, and sometimes, morale is the key to unlocking the full potential of an employee.
I hope that these tips and tricks will help you on your journey of achieving the optimal workplace. Use them wisely, and you’ll have a productive, happy, and lucrative 2021.
