“Workin’ hard, or hardly
workin’?”
“No one notices what I do around
here until I don’t do it”
“I don’t mind coming to work,
it’s the eight hours I wait to go home that I hate”
“I like my job best when I’m on
vacation”
The workplace jokes go on and on.
It seems commonplace for most people to dread going to work every day, but a
comical statement may be a sign of a bigger problem. At Safe Shield, we know that low office morale can
keep your company from running like a well-oiled machine. We’d like to offer
you some tips to perk up the office and maintain (or bring back) your company’s
morale:
· Open
communication
It is important to make your
employees aware of certain operations inside the company. Employees that are
kept in the dark see their higher-ups as less approachable. When the entire
office is aware of a situation or problem, they are more likely to ask questions
and have the opportunity to come up with solutions. Obviously not everything
can be shared with everyone in the company, but well-informed employees respond
better to management and become more loyal to the company.
· Positive
encouragement
Simply put, be a role model to
the company. Be a coach, not a
dictator. People are most creative when they enjoy their work, and part of
enjoying work is knowing it is appreciated. Also, give them the opportunity to
choose their own projects whenever possible. Studies show that employees with
variation and choice in their career are far more productive and creative.
· Recognize
efforts
Even if they fail, recognize the
efforts the members of your company put in. It is far better to have an
employee who is taking risks than one who is complacent. Recognition gives your
employees courage to keep trying new approaches and keeps your company moving
and changing instead of staying in the same old routine.
· Reward
success
Rewarding successes around the
workplace can be the most important and obvious way to improve morale. Rewards
can be simple ideas- acknowledgement at a weekly meeting, having lunch with the
CEO, or giving extra vacation days. Employees appreciate recognition for their
work and will be more productive and eager to perform- not to mention the fact that they are being given
an incentive to do well.
· Clearly
define roles
Those who do not understand what
they are supposed to do, don’t do it well. Make sure your office has a firm
grasp on the roles in the company. An efficient employee is one who knows
exactly what is expected of them and what is not. Placing blame on others and
misplaced excuses are reduced and become unneeded with well-defined company
roles.
· Require
accountability
Employees need to know when they
are meeting expectations and when they are not. If other employees see mistakes
being made and no one being held accountable, they see little need to improve
themselves. Be supportive and clear, but firm in requiring accountability in
your employees, and others will take note.
Safe Shield wants to help you mold
and build your business into the best that it can be. Try a few of these tips around
your office, and soon you will see the talk around the water cooler turn from
Monday complaints to excited ideas and eager responses.
