here are many causes of low morale, but again, more than anything, it comes down to a lack of trust and respect.
A few main causes of low morale are lack of growth and clarity, change in leadership and most important of all- leadership issues.
Low morale is easy to fix. It just takes a conscious effort and commitment.
Here are a few steps that will help you in the process.
* It’s easier to just sweep problems under the rug, or try to 'shield' your employees from bad news, but you’d be much better off being transparent.
Employees will respect that honesty, and you can all work together to fix the issue.
* Lack of recognition might even be the reason morale is low, so it’s in your best interest to focus a bit more on this in tough times. Employees need to feel appreciated and valued.
* Managers have the biggest effect on engagement and morale, therefore training them is one of the most important things you could do to fix morale issues.
Remember, if managers aren’t the direct source of the low morale, it’s their responsibility to fix it. Managers need to be trained in things like: emotional intelligence, communication, different leadership styles, giving feedback and recognition.
* Setting aggressive goals and pushing yourself and your team to the limit is inspiring, but reducing stress, maintaining work-life balance, and running a calm, healthy company should be your real goal.
* Give them a sense of progress and that they have something to look forward to.
Even if it’s not an actual job promotion, give them growth by helping them take courses or attend conferences that will improve their skills. As long as there’s a sense of growth and advancement they’ll be motivated.
* When employees feel heard, they are more likely to be motivated at work and this is where feedback plays a vital role.
You can set up an anonymous employee engagement platform like Officevibe or have informal team meetings, but whatever you do, find a way to show employees that their opinion counts.
Don’t forget to act on whatever feedback you receive.
courtesy: www.officevibe.com
