It goes without saying, but your staff is the backbone of your business. Even the strongest of products or the most cutting-edge ideas need people behind the scenes to create them, sell them, and develop them further. Numerous studies and investigations have found that a simple salary isn’t enough, which is where questions about employee morale come into play. But why does employee morale matter and if the mood is low in your workplace, what can you do? Keep reading to find out.
Why does employee morale matter?
In short, the morale of your team is their attitude and overall feelings towards their work, their role, and your business overall. It can become an issue because when morale is low, it seeps into every aspect of their working lives. It changes how they approach their work, their superiors, those they manage, and their delivery. In short, low morale means a reduction in productivity and the overall performance of your business whilst increasing things like conflict and turnover.
Basically, low morale is not good and if you suspect it amongst your staff, you need to take steps to address it immediately.
How to measure levels of morale in your office?
Measuring morale levels can be tricky as people aren’t always forthcoming with their feelings – especially when their feelings towards their employer aren’t positive. So there are a number of strategies that you can use, such as:
- Anonymous surveys of current staff and those who leave your business. Exit interviews or surveys can be particularly telling as people feel they can be more candid when they are no longer reliant on you.
- Observe your staff throughout the day. Spend time in the break room, and see if office events have good attendance. These small steps can give an indication of the overall mood of your workplace.
- Speak to team leaders. Team leaders may have a better relationship with your staff, so they can be a good source of information.
Tips to boost morale:
1. Get to the root of the problem
If there is an obvious cause of low morale, address it directly. Swift and effective action can help to stop the problem from growing and allow you to turn things around quickly. For example, if the problem is working conditions, hiring a facilities management company can help you to turn things around in no time at all with regular cleaning and effective security measures.
2. Address work-life balance
Poor work-life balance is one of the most common causes of dissatisfaction in the workplace. The problem is that it manifests in different ways. Some workplaces have issues with their staff working beyond their contracted hours, others don’t encourage breaks, and some have issues with the way meetings are run and used. These are just a few examples of things that can throw off the work-life balance. If you’re unsure of what the problem is, speak to your team to understand their concerns.
3. Show gratitude
A simple thank you goes a long way. If your staff don’t feel appreciated, they will quickly become dissatisfied at work. Make gratitude a regular habit company-wide and you will see an improvement in the morale of your staff.
4. Cultivate and maintain a healthy company culture
The culture of your company will be a direct reflection of the mood of your office. Healthy communication, a positive outlook, productivity, and good working relationships are the hallmarks of healthy company culture. Remember, culture starts from the top, so be sure to lead by example.
Wrapping up
Now that you understand how important the morale of your workplace is, it’s time to take steps to address it!