10 Proven Ways for Boosting Team Morale

Many business owners are at a loss when boosting team morale. They may not be sure how to improve productivity and get their employees working together as a team. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help boost morale and improve productivity.

In this blog post, we will discuss ten proven ways to boost team morale and improve productivity in your business!

What is employee morale?

An employee morale boost is anything that helps improve employees’ mood and motivation. This can include awards, bonuses, company outings, or simply showing appreciation for a job well done.

Related: Motivators at Work

Importance of boosting employee morale

Boosting employee morale is essential for several reasons.

First, it can improve productivity. Happy employees with high morale are more likely to be productive than those who are unhappy with their work. For example, a study by the University of Warwick found that happiness led to a 12% spike in productivity, while unhappy workers were 10% less productive.

Second, high morale can lead to better customer service. Customer interactions show up when employees are happy and have a positive attitude. Good customer service is essential for any business, so it’s crucial to have employees who are willing and able to provide it.

Finally, boosting employee morale can help reduce turnover. Employees who are happy with their job are less likely to look for other opportunities. This can save your business money in the long run, as it costs more to train new employees than to keep existing ones.

Related: Importance of Relationships Within the Workplace

How do you improve employee morale and motivation?

There is no one silver bullet answer to this question. Every team and workplace is unique; what works to improve morale and motivation in one organization may not work in another. However, some general principles can be applied in most cases.

Attempt to identify the root causes of low morale and motivation. For example, is it due to poor management? Lack of recognition? Unclear expectations? Once you have identified the root causes, you can begin to address them.

Make sure that employees feel like they are valued members of the team. This can be done through regular one-on-one meetings, clear and frequent communication, and opportunities for employees to give feedback.

Encourage a healthy work-life balance. This means ensuring that employees have the opportunity to take breaks, use their vacation days, and have flexible schedules when possible.

Create an environment where employees feel like they can openly express their ideas and concerns. This can be done by fostering open communication and maintaining a positive attitude.

Finally, remember that it takes time to improve morale and motivation. So be patient and consistent in your efforts, and eventually, you will see results.

Related: Incentive Theories of Motivation

10 Best Ways to Boost Employee Morale

There are many ways to boost team morale, but not all methods are created equal. In this section, we will discuss ten ways to boost employee morale so you can see improved productivity in your business!

1. Make employee recognition a priority

Prioritizing employee recognition is key to maintaining positive employee morale. When employees feel appreciated, they are more likely to be happy with their work and motivated to continue producing high-quality results.

While a simple “thank you” goes a long way, making recognition a consistent habit requires much more effort. Leaders play a critical role in this effort, as they can set the tone for the entire organization.

Encouraging frequent recognition will help everyone get in the habit of appreciating one another. And by linking appreciation to specific behaviors, leaders can encourage employees to repeat those behaviors.

92% of employees say they’re more likely to repeat actions they’re recognized for. Consequently, prioritize employee recognition to maintain positive employee morale.

2. Acknowledge employee’s work

Acknowledging an employee’s hard work is a crucial way to maintain high morale in the workplace. A simple “thank you” can go a long way in showing your appreciation for a job well done. Not only does it boost employee morale, but it also encourages them to keep up the good work.

When employees feel appreciated, they are more likely to be productive and engaged in their work. In addition, managers’ acknowledgment can help create a positive feedback loop that further reinforces good performance.

As a result, showing appreciation for your employees’ hard work is vital to maintaining a healthy and productive workplace.

3. Employees should have a voice

Giving employees a voice is essential to maintaining employee morale and ensuring that feedback is relevant and actionable. Pulse surveys are an effective way to collect feedback regularly, and an always-on feedback channel lets team members provide feedback whenever they have something to say.

Look for a voice of the employee solution that provides both pulse surveys and an always-on feedback channel that guides managers to create collaborative action plans with their teams to address feedback.

4. Promote health and well-being

In these trying times, it is more important than ever for organizations to support employees’ mental and physical health. Anxiety caused most U.S. employees to struggle in 2020, and almost half say their mental health has suffered while working remotely.

Giving employees adequate resources, providing the flexibility and time off needed for a healthy work-life balance, and encouraging physical activity are fantastic ways to support employee well-being. You can also reward employees who adopt healthy habits and meet their wellness goals.

Find a rewards solution that integrates with wellness tools to make recognizing your wellness superstars easy. Supporting employee health and wellness is the right thing to do and can lead to increased employee engagement and productivity.

5. Make mental health a priority for employees.

Companies must prioritize employee mental health as the number of people working remotely has increased.

Remote workers can burn out, as employees have difficulty unplugging from work. To prevent this, companies should be disciplined about boundaries and encourage their team members to take time off.

Other ways to prioritize employee mental health include offering flexible work schedules, providing additional paid time off, and encouraging employees to take regular breaks throughout the day.

6. Embrace your culture and values

Positive company culture is essential to attracting and retaining talented employees. When employees feel like they buy into your culture and share your values, they are more likely to be happy in their jobs and stay with your company for the long run.

Keeping your culture aligned with your employees’ expectations and needs is essential. Leaders play a vital role in this process. However, most employees say their managers are primarily responsible for establishing company culture.

To ensure that managers are living your values and actively engaging with employees on key aspects of your culture, set up regular check-ins and give employees a platform to provide feedback.

By taking these steps, you can create a workplace culture that everyone can be proud of.

7. Be Transparent

As a leader, it’s important to be as transparent as possible with your team. This means being honest about any problems that arise instead of trying to hide them or avoid conversations.

Your employees will respect your honesty, and you can work together to fix the issues. It’s also important to keep your team informed about company updates, new protocols, customer feedback, and more.

This way, everyone is on the same page and can work together to provide the best possible service. In addition, transparency will build trust with your team, create a more positive work environment, and maintain employee morale.

8. Encourage communication

A sense of community is critical for high employee morale. Conversely, when employees feel disconnected from their team and company culture, it impacts their morale: 44% of employees experience lower morale due to isolation.

Encouraging transparent communication is a great way to build community and maintain employee morale. When employees can quickly access important information and see that leadership works to stay authentic. Using tools that make communication easy, no matter where team members find themselves, helps your employees stay connected.

9. Empower your employees

Any business owner or manager knows that high workplace morale is essential to a successful company. Employees feel valued and trusted and more likely to be productive and passionate about their work.

Conversely, when employees feel micromanaged or unsupported, it can lead to low morale and a high turnover rate.

The best way to establish mutual trust with employees is by demonstrating your trust in them through employee empowerment.

They won’t forget who made that success possible and will show trust in you and the company in return. Creating a culture of trust will not only improve employee morale but will also boost your bottom line.

10. Encourage employee development

Employee satisfaction is essential for high morale in the workplace. When employees feel like they have opportunities for professional development, they are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs.

Encouraging employees to take on new responsibilities and giving them time to work on passion projects or development courses is a great way to show them a clear path for advancement.

This will help keep your employees motivated and engaged, and it will improve company morale overall.

Related: Motivation and Reward Systems for Employees

Causes of Low Company Morale

There are many causes of low employee morale in the workplace. In this section, we will discuss 4 of the most common reasons so you can be aware of them and take steps to avoid them!

1. Lack of employer recognition or appreciation

One of the most common causes of low employee morale is a lack of recognition or appreciation from employers. Employees who feel their hard work is not being recognized or appreciated are likelier to be unhappy and have low morale.

If you want to boost team morale, it is crucial to make sure you are showing your employees how much you appreciate them!

There are many ways to show appreciation, but some ideas include:

• Saying “thank you” often
• Giving bonuses or awards
• Having company outings
• Showing public appreciation (such as on social media)

2. Work that does not feel meaningful or valuable

Another common cause of low employee morale is feeling like their work is not meaningful or valuable. If employees feel like their work has no purpose or is not positively contributing to the company, they are more likely to be unhappy and have low morale.

There are many ways to make sure your employees feel valued:

• Providing clear expectations and goals
• Giving feedback often
• Asking for input on projects
• Assigning tasks that are interesting and challenging
• Making sure salaries are fair

3. Poor working conditions

Poor working conditions are another common cause of low employee morale. If employees feel like their working conditions are not ideal, they are more likely to be unhappy and have low morale.

It is vital to make sure your employees feel comfortable and safe in their work environment!

There are many ways to improve working conditions:

• Providing ergonomic furniture and equipment
• Having a clean and organized workspace
• Keeping the office temperature comfortable
• Make sure there is enough light
• Ensuring there is good ventilation

4. Policies that are frustrating at work

Another common cause of low employee morale is frustration with company policies. If employees feel like they are being micromanaged or that their company’s policies are unreasonable, they are more likely to be unhappy and have low morale.

To boost team morale, it is important to ensure your employees feel their voices are heard and that they have a say in company policies!

There are many ways to get employee input on company policies:

• Asking for feedback during policy changes
• Holding focus groups or survey
• Creating a suggestions box
• Encouraging open communication about policies

Related: Examples of Positive Reinforcement

Importance of Employee Morale at Remote Work

Employee morale is just as important in remote work as in traditional workplace settings. It might be even more important in remote work because employees can feel isolated and disconnected from their company if they are unhappy with their job.

In order to boost team morale, it is important to ensure your remote employees feel connected to the company and that their voices are heard!

There are many ways to connect with remote employees:

• Having regular video meetings

One of the best ways to boost company morale is to have regular video meetings. This helps remote employees feel connected to their company and allows them to see the faces of their co-workers.

It also allows managers to check in with employees and see how they are doing. Video meetings can be done using various platforms, such as Skype, Zoom, or Google Hangouts.

• Sharing company news and updates often

Sharing company news and updates is a great way to keep your team in the loop and feel connected to the company. It can also be a great way to keep employees updated on changes, new products, or upcoming events. You can share company news and updates via email, social media, or your website.

• Celebrating birthdays and holidays

Celebrating birthdays and holidays is a great way to boost team morale. This helps employees feel appreciated and valued by their company. It can also be a lot of fun for everyone involved! There are many different ways to celebrate birthdays and holidays:

• Asking for feedback often

Remote employee feedback is important for employee engagement. This helps employees feel that their voices are heard and that their opinions matter. It can also be a great way to get ideas for improving your company. You can ask for employee feedback via surveys, focus groups, one-on-one meetings, or casual conversations.

When you try to connect with your employees, it shows that you care about their experience and are open to hearing their suggestions. This will help build a positive relationship with your employees and boost morale.

Related: Group Communication

Conclusion

We hope this blog post has helped give you some ideas on boosting team morale and improving business productivity. But, of course, every business is different, so feel free to experiment with other techniques to find what works best for you.

We’ve outlined ten ways to improve team morale and productivity in your business. Which ones will you try first? Let us know in the comments section below!

FAQ