The Moral of This Story Is Morale


Every business owner is the same. You are so tied up in being successful that you forget what it takes to build a successful business. A hint: you need a passionate and dedicated team of employees. But, you won’t be able to create this special squad if the job is boring and monotonous. Not to stick the knife in, but your workforce probably does feel this way from time to time. The good news is that you can eradicate these treacherous feelings in one foul swoop. Okay, it might take a couple of swoops, but you get the drift. Here are some tips on keeping morale high in the workplace.

Team Building Exercises
Lots of companies go to retreats to talk about their feelings and build bridges. In fact, it’s almost a cliché in today’s industry. And, because it is a cliché, you won’t be doing the same thing. There is no doubt that you must build morale by bonding the team together, but not with a retreat. Nope, you want something fun and exciting and enjoyable like a round of paintball or a night on the town. By participating in team building events they like, the event if more likely to have the desired effect. Otherwise, it’s just a waste of time and money. 

Work Life Balance
You will hear people talk about work-life balance and how important it is to them, so don’t dismiss it out of hand. Employees have lives outside of the business, and it’s vital that you understand this. You might only have eyes for becoming a market leader, but everyone else won’t feel the same. They feel as if they want to get home to see their partners or kids and have dinner and relax. With this in mind, it’s imperative that you give them enough time to unwind. Then, they will come back refreshed and focused and more productive. 

Celebrate Accomplishments
It’s a fact that some workers believe their employers don’t care about them or their achievements. In fact, the cynics think that you only want them for business purposes. As you can tell, this doesn’t help keep them motivated because there is no bond or special relationship. As they don’t care for you, they don’t care whether they do good work or bad work. All they care about is a steady paycheck. However, if you start to show them you care, their attitude will change. By celebrating an accomplishment, they know that you aren’t a faceless boss milking them for profit. Instead, they understand that you care about them to some extent. 

Lead By Example
As the boss, it’s up to you to instil a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. Of course, you achieve this goal by mixing things up and adding a sense of unpredictability. For example, you might give half a day off to have a work party. Or, you might simply walk around with a smile on your face and a can-do attitude. Seriously, it’s amazing how many people pick up and replicate their bosses.