5 ways to increase office morale

A healthy level of morale in the office is beneficial to both management and employees. A good leader puts a priority on striving to keep morale high in the workplace. Employers who place a high level of importance and value in their staff are rewarded with dependable employees who tend to feel a sense of loyalty and pride towards the company.

Image credit: Pixabay

Identifying low morale

On the other hand, low morale typically creates a ripple of negative effects into the workplace. When this occurs, it tends to affect everyone involved. For instance, an office plagued with poor morale is likely to experience decreased productivity, lowered performance and a decline in overall happiness. It can also result in low innovation levels, along with increased absences or tardiness.

Smart leaders understand the importance of healthy levels of morale and will work to boost morale levels in the office. The way to counter low morale to first make an effort to try and discover where the root of the problem lies. Next would be to identify ways to increase employee motivation.

Managers are often tasked with finding a way to create happiness for several employees. There is typically no one-size fits all solution as people respond differently. However, some of the potential solutions are easy ones and, by taking a variety of approaches, chances are overall morale in the office may improve. Here are five easy ways employers can increase office morale:

1. Say thank you and offer compliments

A simple thanks can go a long way in boosting morale. For starters, it demonstrates to employees their efforts don't go unnoticed. Most people appreciate being complimented for a job well done and this simple act can do wonders to boost morale. A manager who consistently offers praise when warranted is likely to find this is also valued by staff members.

All too often managers that are under pressure from their superiors get so caught up in the deadlines and stressors they forget to take the time to stop for a moment and express a thank you and/or compliment to the people who help get it all done. Leaders who pause for just a few minutes to offer kind words are likely to find employee morale steadily begin to increase. It shows employees that they are not taken for granted and/or disregarded.

2. Encourage levels of autonomy

Offering employees a degree of autonomy can also go a long way towards increasing morale. Most people don't like to be micromanaged.When considering autonomy, consider leadership habits. As a boss do you:

• Constantly check up on your employees?
• Want a say in every decision they make?
• Ever allow employees to the chance to show initiative?
• Allow employees decision making responsibilities?

Depending on how you answer these questions, you might find you have created a micromanaged work environment. This can be a big culprit of low morale. It also means it's time to revamp the work atmosphere and transform it into one encouraging more independence.  Establishing an environment where autonomy is encouraged can go a long way to increase employee confidence, while simultaneously raising their spirits.

3. Reward employees

Not all employees respond to the same kind of reward. Some respond to intrinsic rewards, which are achieved through task performance, feelings of accomplishment, achievement and other non-monetary rewards.  Psychologytoday.com points out,

"It turns out that people are motivated by interesting work, challenge, and increasing responsibility."

Since intrinsic rewards are achieved through performance, there are no measurable payments in this type of reward. But with the right incentive, motivation tends to increase. This being the case, offering rewards that involve more responsibility, or even a change of pace in the daily routine, can do wonders for morale. (Consider cross-training your employees in each other's jobs or allowing some job rotation.) These types of changes aren't costly and only take just a little extra effort.

You'll also need to consider there will be others who gravitate toward extrinsic, or tangible, rewards. Staff who respond more positively to extrinsic rewards are happier with receiving monetary rewards, celebratory or appreciation luncheons, gift cards, flex-time, or even a bit of time off. A quick trip to the store to pick up some cards, or a quick call to a caterer, can provide a nice effort of appreciation likely to result in employees being more motivated.

4. Keep an open door policy

The levels of communication in an office are key factors which can impact employee morale. Some bosses remain behind closed doors during the day as they go about their own tasks. In many ways, this habit can have a negative effect on employee morale. People tend to respond more positively to bosses who encourage an open door policy and make themselves approachable.

Managers who keep closed doors, effectively putting up barriers between manager and employee, usually diminish communication. A firm effort to remain visible and easy to talk to, and present oneself as being open to ideas and concerns, can go a long way in keeping staff morale healthier. Encouraging higher levels of communication only entails a small change in a boss's demeanor.

5. Offer feedback

Perhaps it's not a surprise to find many employees wonder how they are doing at their jobs. According to some statistics, 75 percent of employees want feedback but say they don't get it. Bosses who do not give feedback to their teams are doing their staff and themselves a huge disservice. Providing regular feedback is useful to all. Not to mention it's also a good opportunity to do some positive reinforcement which can be done very easily on a regular basis.

Managers have many responsibilities, but tending to daily tasks should never lead to employee neglect. Employee morale is an important consideration and bosses who invest efforts in their employees often find themselves rewarded as well. Chances are productivity and performance will reach higher levels and, as a result, profitability improves as well.

A strong office morale is likely to result in higher levels of innovation, loyalty and enthusiasm, which bodes well for an organization's future. Investing in employee morale is worth the effort, and often it is the little things, those really easy in nature, that end up meaning the most to staff.