Urge staff to get to know each other and to work together to create a sense of communityHappy employees are productive employees, but when workloads are heavy and deadlines are tight, it can be tough keeping spirits up. It is vital for employers to consider team morale – this is the overall attitude, confidence and feelings of satisfaction that employees have within the workplace.
There are many ways to boost team morale and employers don’t need to spend money on rewards to keep staff satisfied and confident. By focusing on the following areas, employers can encourage a positive attitude and mood amongst their employees.
1. Provide positive feedback
If someone has worked hard, tell them they’ve done a great job. Make sure you let people know when they are doing things right, as it can really give employees a sense of accomplishment. When someone is struggling, a few words of encouragement is reassuring and can give the boost they may need to continue. Knowing their efforts are appreciated will mean that they feel happy and confident for their future work.
2. Celebrate achievements from work and home
Whether it is meeting a tight deadline or closing a big sale, there should always be successes at work to applaud, but why not look at achievements and milestones in people’s personal lives too? If an employee takes part in a sports event, or even has a ‘special’ birthday, encourage them to celebrate and share it with the office. This will allow them to feel that their employer is seeing them personally, not just as an employee. This helps with work-life integration, rather than creating a barrier between work and personal life.
3. Foster a community spirit
Urge staff to get to know each other and to work together to create a sense of community. This generates a supportive and encouraging atmosphere, it is so much more satisfying to feel ‘part of a team’. By organising events and activities at work, staff can get to know each other and relax together, and it can even change their view of coming to work.
4. Get out of the office
Working inside from 9-5, or even longer, can be draining and uninspiring. Especially in winter months, when daylight hours are short, it can be beneficial to get out of the office to get some daylight and fresh air. Encouraging staff to have a proper lunch break outside of the office can be refreshing and valuable to mental health. Following on from fostering a community spirit with work events and activities, encourage staff to get together out of the office too – organising gatherings outside of work can be beneficial in bringing people together.
5. Allow employees to progress
Many employees accept they may need to start at the bottom, with the aim of working their way up. Where possible, provide opportunities for employees to progress throughout an organisation – note their strengths and pair them with opportunities. If employees starting out recognise that others have worked through the ranks, it shows that there is something to aim for and keeps staff feeling motivated and positive about the future.
The key here really is to bring people together, create a positive atmosphere and support your employees and they will then naturally grow in confidence as a team, feeling happier and satisfied.
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