How to Boost / Improve Employee Morale?

Figure 01

If you’re noticing some evident issues in the workplace, you may be wondering just how you can help resolve them. There are some common problems you’ll likely encounter at work - one of them being a lack of employee morale, which can lead to further complications down the line.

Employee morale can be defined by a person’s job satisfaction and the degree to which the individual receives satisfaction from the job situation (Bhasin, 2018), motivated job-engagement (Verma & Kesari, 2017), feelings of well-being toward the company (Muskita & Kazimoto, 2017), and the emotional connection employees have during their time within a workplace environment based on the risk, policies, and management (Webster, 2018).

Here are some ideas for improving employee morale at workplace:

1) Communicate effectively:

Miscommunication is a common cause of problems. If you find that certain employees are particularly difficult to approach or communicate with, devise a strategy for reaching out to them. It's nearly impossible to work as a team if you don't talk to each other about the tasks at hand, so it's critical that everyone is as open and approachable as possible.

Make sure you're open with your coworkers and come across as someone who's willing to talk about any issues or even accomplishments they've had at work.

2) Resolve conflicts: 

Have you ever noticed any workplace conflicts? Whether it's work disagreements, personality clashes, or workplace bullying (of which 37% say they've been a victim), it's critical to resolve the issue before it becomes a hindrance to your work. This is true even if you aren't directly involved, because open conflict can create a hostile and unproductive environment.

Approach those who are directly involved and see if you can come up with a solution or a common ground to end the conflict. If that doesn't work, go to a higher-up and see if their power can help put an end to it.

3) Smooth out issues with your work:

If a problem keeps cropping up at work, it's time to recognize it and devise a strategy for resolving it. People becoming complacent in the workplace frequently result in unsolved problems, which can stymie processes and make things unnecessarily difficult.

Detecting these problems and taking action will demonstrate that you are a proactive and determined employee who stands out among your peers. As an added bonus, you'll notice that things become much easier once you've ironed out the kinks in your working style.

4) Socialize outside of the workplace:

Sometimes, all it takes to boost employee morale during difficult times at work is a break. Why not get together with your coworkers after a long day and grab a bite to eat or a drink? Because you are often too preoccupied to communicate and talk to those around you at work, this could be all you need to de-stress and open up to your coworkers.

Team-building days are a tried and tested formula for bringing people closer together and encouraging bonds, but the same can be achieved in just one evening if you simply head out and have a good time. Alexander Kjerulf is one such person who claims “socializing with your co-workers is essential for your career”.

5) Transform the workplace into a more positive environment:

Physical changes can help to improve workplace mood and morale in a variety of ways. Offices are now adapting and evolving, changing their layouts to become much more open and positive environments. Employee morale can be boosted by bright lighting, open spaces, and different areas to sit with coworkers.

Sitting at your desk all day isn't good for productivity or motivation because it becomes routine; instead, get up, move around, talk to your coworkers, and try out new and different ways of working.

Basics of Motivation: Building Morale in your Team:

Figure 02 (Resource: Management Courses - Mike Clayton - YouTube)

References:

• Corporate Finance Institute. 2022. Employee Morale. [online] Available at: <https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/careers/soft-skills/employee-morale/> [Accessed 24 April 2022]."
  
  
• Essays, Research Papers and Articles on Business Management. 2022. Employee Morale: Definition, Meaning, Importance, Methods & Motivation. [online] Available at: <https://www.businessmanagementideas.com/human-resource-management-2/employee-morale/employee-morale/20610> [Accessed 25 April 2022].
  
  
• Corporate Finance Institute. 2022. Employee Morale. [online] Available at: <https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/careers/soft-skills/employee-morale/> [Accessed 25 April 2022].
  
  
• Ijrte.org. 2022. [online] Available at: <https://www.ijrte.org/wp-content/uploads/papers/v8i4/D8070118419.pdf> [Accessed 26 April 2022].
  
  
• Youtube.com. 2022. [online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmRx7R2aQr8> [Accessed 26 April 2022].
  
  
• Taylor & Francis. 2022. Identification of interventions to improve employee morale in physically demanding, repetitive motion work tasks: A pilot case study. [online] Available at: <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311916.2021.1914287> [Accessed 26 April 2022].