Enthusiastic employees are more productive.
Morale, as defined by Nicole Fink in "The Leading Edge," is the demonstrated behavior of a group of employees, which is exhibited through attitude and demeanor. It has the ability to help or hinder an organization's objectives. Low morale hurts your company through poor job performance, increased employee absence and turnover. Employees may exhibit counterproductive behaviors toward the organization, such as arriving late to work, not completing projects or having a lack of engagement with assignments. However, there are ways to improve the morale of your workforce.
Instructions
1. Provide open lines of communication between employees and managers. There are different ways that management may facilitate this, such as holding company-wide meetings, encouraging supervisors to request feedback frequently and by explaining job responsibilities to the staff. By providing clear expectations, employees have a better sense of their work priorities. In addition, supervisors should allow employees to express any concerns or questions. The organization may use open communication to rectify workforce issues, such as team conflict, poor management or lack of direction, as soon as they arise.
2. Reward good performance and offer incentives. When performance is above average, rewards can improve morale. In addition, a manager may offer incentives such as a flexible work schedule, bonus pay or additional time off. Companies should allow employees to conduct self-evaluations, which serve to assess job performance and identify ways to improve.
3. Provide the workforce with development opportunities. A manager may improve morale by motivating his employees to take professional development courses or seek job-related certifications. By investing in professional development, the organization communicates the value it places on individual growth. Companies also may encourage team-building activities, which improve group effectiveness.
4. Encourage initiative and independence among employees, which improves morale by giving the individual a sense of control over his work. Allowing for some autonomy in completing job tasks helps management see how individual achievement contributes to the overall plan.
5. Set goals and provide a deadline for completion. Companies should identify the highest priorities for the organization and then link individual goals to the larger objective. This serves as a motivator for staff and can improve employee morale.
