It can be difficult to find ways to continue to inspire and motivate staff members, but developing a few more staff morale-boosting techniques is key when it comes to retaining the talent and cooperation that your organization relies on.
What are the most effective strategies for boosting staff morale?
1) Listen
The first one is simple: really listen closely to what they have said. Get as close as possible (in person or on video) and make eye contact with them while they speak. Showing that you care about what they’re saying can go a long way in boosting their confidence. Listening to your employee experience is a good way to improve morale, click here to learn more.
2) Provide specific praise
Also simple, but powerful. Make sure that you give very specific praise for what is being done well and in a way that it can be repeated. If you tell them to do something but only reward them when they do exactly what you said, then that may not make them feel particularly valued or motivated.
3) Recognize problem situations early
If staff is struggling or have simply lost confidence in the project or organization, it’s important to recognize the situation and help turn it around as early as possible. It’s difficult to provide detailed recognition for a job well done if a staff member has been exhibiting negative behaviors over an extended period.
4) Focus on positive behaviors
Incorporate behaviors into the day-to-day activities of your organization, such as being respectful, honest, and polite. These values are universal qualities that all people possess; however, it is still important to have staff members demonstrate these behaviors as part of their work day.
5) Promote from within
Developing your management team by promoting from within your organization has several benefits. Not only does it cut down on recruitment costs, but seeing your colleagues progress can be motivating as long as you believe your effort will also be rewarded in time. The company will also have a management team that really understands the business.
6) Be creative
You might want to incorporate new activities that challenge your staff members, but do it in a fun way. You can create team-building activities or break from the usual monotony of staff meetings to add a bit of joy to everything your team does together. Team exercises and competitions often help boost staff morale.
7) Invest in training
Invest in any training your staff members may need to better perform their jobs. Whether you need to purchase new technology or hire additional staff, investing in your team members is a great way to boost staff morale. Training doesn’t have to be expensive; for example, it can be as simple as an internal video recording of a few of the positive aspects of the organization and sharing that with employees.
There are several ways to inspire and motivate staff beyond the usual monetary incentives. If you’re already doing things to promote positive behavior and morale in your workplace, don’t stop there. You can never do too much to boost staff morale and it’s important to keep trying new strategies as your business grows.
