In the current economic climate, you may be wondering if you’ll have a job next week. Especially with Twitter and Facebook announcing that they are laying people off. Add to that the normal daily pressures of work and you’re likely to be in a bit of a slump.
You and your colleagues may be unmotivated and unproductive, but there are things as a manager you can do to boost morale in your workplace and see everyone’s productivity soar, including your own!
In today’s show I am going to be taking a look at workplace morale and why it is important; the effects of low morale in the workplace and the impact this has on organizations; it does not have to be all doom and gloom I then share with you how to improve your workplace morale; and finally, the benefits of having a positive work environment.
Workplace Morale: What It Is and Why You Should Care
You’ve probably heard the term “workplace morale” thrown around a lot but may not be entirely sure what it means. Simply put, workplace morale refers to the overall attitude and job satisfaction of employees at a given company. While you may not think that workplace morale is all that important, the truth is that it can have a major impact on your health and ultimately your career. Here’s everything you need to know about workplace morale and why you should care.
What Is Workplace Morale?
Workplace morale is often described as the “feelings or emotions that employees have about their jobs.” In other words, it’s how satisfied or unhappy employees are with their work. While employer-employee relationships can certainly affect workplace morale, it’s also influenced by things like company culture, workload, pay, and opportunities for advancement.
When workplace morale is high, employees are more likely to be engaged in their work and feel like they are part of a team. They’re also more likely to be productive and go the extra mile for their employer. On the other hand, when workplace morale is low, employees are more likely to be disengaged, dissatisfied, and even resentful of their employer. We’ll look at the impacts of low morale in a few minutes.
Why You Should Care About Workplace Morale
You should care about workplace morale for two reasons: first, because happy employees are more productive employees; and second, because happy employees are more likely to stay with a company long-term. Teams with high morale are also more cohesive and better able to weather challenges—something that’s especially important in today’s uncertain economic climate. Finally, if you’re looking for a long-term career home, you want to find a company with high morale because its employees will be more likely to stick around (and taking advantage of mentorship opportunities is one of the best ways to advance your career).
The bottom line is that workplace morale matters—both for the success of individual businesses and for your career. If you’re looking to achieve your professional goals, it’s important to pay attention to the overall attitude at your company and make sure that it’s somewhere you can see yourself being happy long-term. Let’s now look at what happens with low morale.
The Dangers of Low Morale in the Workplace—and How to Avoid Them
It’s no secret that at some point in all of our careers we face unique challenges in the workplace. One of the major obstacles that is often overlooked, however, is low morale. Low morale can be dangerous for not only your career and mental health, but that of your team—so it’s important to be on the lookout for it. Here’s what you need to know about low morale in the workplace and how to avoid it.
What Is Low Morale?
Low morale is a negative state of mind that can be caused by a number of factors, including overwork, underappreciation, and feeling like you’re not advancing in your career. Low workplace morale can lead to increased absenteeism, decreased productivity and there is a higher chance of employees quitting. Studies have shown that 70% of people who leave their jobs is directly correlated with their immediate line manager. In other words, low morale can have a major impact on your career—and it’s something you should take seriously.
How to improve morale and bring more motivation to your workplace
- Be aware of the signs.
The first step in avoiding low morale is being aware of the signs. Pay attention to how you’re feeling at work and take note if you start dreading going into the office or feel like you’re not being challenged enough. If you start to experience any of these symptoms, it’s time to take action.
- Set small goals for yourself and celebrate when you reach them.
This could be anything from landing a new client to getting a big project done on time. Giving yourself something to strive for will help you stay motivated and focused at work.
- Connect with your colleagues.
Perhaps you don’t really know your coworkers! Do you know them on a personal level or just as professionals? When you make an effort to learn more about them, you may discover what motivates them. It also makes them feel valued.
- Recognize your colleague’s birthdays. Birthday cake always lightens the mood! Your office will be glad that you care enough about them to recognize their special day.
- Ask about their personal lives. Are they married? Do they have children? What are their hobbies? These types of questions let you know about them as individuals. If you don’t remember things well, make notes and keep it in a file.
- Recognize personal and professional accomplishments.You might be surprised how a coworker is motivated when they know their team acknowledges and rewards the work they’ve done.
- Create an appreciation program. Choose someone as employee-of-the-month. Hang their photo in the lounge until the next is chosen.
- Write them a personal thank you note if they’ve done something particularly impressive. You may also include a gift certificate or send something in recognition of their hard work.
- Give them a voice. Create a satisfaction survey. These may even be done anonymously. Be sure to address any perceived problems quickly and thoroughly for the best results.
- Hold staff meetings regularly. This will give staff an opportunity to learn about the company’s status as well as voice any questions they may have. Ask for feedback if changes have to be made.
- Ask others what type of training they may need to do their job better. By offering continuing training, you’ll prove that your team is valuable to you, and you’ll do your business a great service by having top-notch, highly trained workers.
- Hold regular One-on-Ones.
Meet with each of your team members individually. It demonstrates to them that you actually care about them and want to know about how they are progressing in their roles and if there is anything you can do to help support them in their current role.
When morale and productivity begin to wane, it’s important to let your employees know you value them. Sure, they get paid for the work they do every week, but sometimes they need a little pick-me-up.
Rewards don’t have to be elaborate or expensive. A little bit of recognition can go a long way to improving the atmosphere in your workplace. The current trend with managers is saying ‘I appreciate you’, if you’re not too careful, this phrase will become overused and could quickly have a negative effective when you throw in a comment like this. Staff will begin to realize it as an insincere statement.
Actions speak louder than words, make sure you acknowledge their efforts on a job well done, let them know you realize how hard they worked on something – even if it wasn’t a success. Have a development conversation with your staff member to find out what they learned from something that didn’t go the way they had hoped. You are showing them you have their back and want to them to succeed, but you are also demonstrating you are there to support them when things don’t go as planned.
The Power of a Positive Work Environment
We all know that a positive work environment is important, but what exactly are the benefits? A positive work environment can lead to increased productivity, creativity, and collaboration. Additionally, a positive work environment can help reduce stress, increase job satisfaction, and improve employee retention rates. Let’s take a closer look at each of these benefits.
The Benefits of a Positive Work Environment
A positive work environment is important for many reasons. Here are just a few of the benefits you can expect to see when you create a positive work environment:
- Increased Productivity:
When employees feel valued and supported, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated to do their best work. Additionally, studies have shown that employees who feel happy at work are 12% more productive.
- Creativity and Innovation:
A positive work environment fosters creativity and innovation because employees feel comfortable taking risks. Employees who feel safe to experiment and share new ideas are more likely to come up with creative solutions to problems.
- Collaboration:
A positive work environment encourages collaboration because employees feel like they are part of a team. When employees feel like they are working towards a common goal, they are more likely to be open to collaboration. Additionally, a positive work environment can foster relationships between employees, which can lead to better communication and collaboration.
- Reduced Stress:
A positive work environment can help reduce stress because employees feel supported. Studies have shown that employees who have a high level of job satisfaction have lower levels of stress. Additionally, a positive work environment can help reduce absenteeism due to illness by up to 70%.
- Improved Employee Retention Rates:
A positive work environment helps improve employee retention rates because employees feel valued. When employees feel like they are part of a team and their contributions are valued, they are less likely to look for other opportunities. Additionally, a positive work environment can help reduce turnover rates by up to 50%.
- Job Satisfaction:
A positive work environment leads to increased job satisfaction because employees feel like they are part of something larger than themselves. When employees feel valued and supported, they are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. Additionally, studies have shown that happy employees take an average of 10 sick days per year while unhappy employees take 18 sick days per year.
A positive work environment is important for many reasons. We looked at some of the benefits of having a positive work environment include increased productivity, creativity and innovation, collaboration, reduced stress, improved employee retention rates, and increased job satisfaction. What I did not mention was the positive impact it has on your health and that of your team, which equates to a reduction in sick leave. If you want to create a positive work environment, start by focusing on these key areas!
Final thoughts, give each member of your team the respect they deserve. Use these ways of boosting morale in the workplace and before you know it, your employees will have smiles on their faces and motivation on their mind! Take action by setting goals, connect with co-workers and your team, and celebrate accomplishments. With a little effort, you can keep everyone’s morale high, including your own.
Before you know it you have one of the best places to work!
Here’s to your future Career Success!