Most companies have had their fair share of setbacks on the way to success.
Financial crises, product failures, lack of resources, market downturns, legal disputes, leadership changes, technological disruptions, fierce competition – you name it!
During these times of hardship, it’s crucial to prioritize supporting your employees who may feel overwhelmed, disengaged, or uncertain about the future.
So, in this article, we’ll go through a few simple yet effective strategies for boosting employee morale during times of uncertainty.
Let’s delve right in!
The Importance of Maintaining High Morale through Employee Engagement
In the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, preserving workplace morale has emerged as a pressing challenge for managers and HR professionals alike. Sustaining elevated levels of engagement among employees necessitates the implementation of targeted tactics and strategies.
Gallup defines engagement as the level of involvement and enthusiasm of employees in the workplace. Engagement fuels morale and in return morale keeps engagement high. Both are essential to creating a positive and productive work culture.
A Closer Look at the Stats
Learning how to keep employee morale high during hard times has become a primary role for executive leaders. When you consider the fact that disengaged employees cost companies as much as $350 billion a year, this makes a whole lot of sense.
According to the latest Global Workplace Report from Gallup, only 23% of the world’s employees feel engaged at work. In other words, declining workplace morale remains a tricky puzzle to solve for most companies.
Here are some reasons why focusing on employee morale during hard times is key:
It can help sustain levels of productivity, efficiency, and engagement.
A loyal and motivated workforce is more likely to remain resilient during periods of turbulence.
It helps prevent costs from escalating. High employee morale reduces absenteeism, workplace stress, turnover, and workplace accidents.
Maintaining Morale in the Workplace: 8 Key Strategies
As humans, we are good at navigating change but tend to deal with uncertainty in less productive ways. When things get tough at work, teams rely on their managers for support and leadership.
Below are eight actionable strategies to increase employee morale during times when the going gets tough, yet we need to get going.
1. Communication is Key
Communication is vital in any workplace setting but becomes even more important during challenging times. Uncertainty can weigh heavily on your employees. By being open and honest about what’s happening, you can make the uncertainty feel less daunting.
Let the team in on important updates about the organization’s priorities and goals. Don’t sugarcoat the facts. Instead, explain the situation and what strategies will be put into action to stabilize the situation.
Give your employees a clear sense of direction and purpose.
2. Being Open to Feedback
Showing your employees that their input matters is critical. Listen to your team’s feedback, concerns, and suggestions. This will give you a clear picture of how they’re feeling about things at work. It also gives you the opportunity to target critical issues.
3. Transparency as a Key Strategy
As a business leader or HR manager, transparency is your most important ally. This is especially true during difficult times when uncertainty becomes a canker that infects every nook and cranny of the workplace. Transparency in your decision-making ensures that the team is on the same page.
A transparent work culture promotes trust and accountability. It creates a strong social climate where you can openly discuss goals, objectives and challenges that demand the best out of everyone.
4. Celebrating Milestone Achievements
Even in tough times, it’s important to celebrate your employees’ achievements. An effective strategy is to highlight at least one accomplished milestone every week.
Reward your team mates’ performance with verbal praise, thank-you notes, bonuses, a gift card, and other perks of appreciation.
Calling out employee achievements can do wonders for workplace morale and productivity! Check out this article about employee engagement ROI and see for yourself.
5. Being Flexible
Changing the dynamics of work can help infuse a sense of renewed opportunity among your employees. It might be a good idea to offer a more flexible and results-focused schedule.
According to a recent Gallup study, 76% of employees reported an improved work-life balance from the moment they became hybrid. 52% reported higher levels of productivity!
Allowing asynchronous work schedules gives your team space to plan their work and personal responsibilities in a way that suits them. This, in turn, can have a strong positive effect on performance and engagement.
6. A Healthy Work-Life Balance
Promoting healthy work-life habits and offering support for employees during tough times is vital. Not knowing what will happen six months from now can take a toll on people’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Here are some effective steps toward helping your team cope:
Instituting a workplace wellness program
Forming a peer support group
Mandating breaks throughout the workday that extend beyond the lunch hour
Offering mindfulness and stress reduction classes at work
Organizing team-building activities or social events to foster camaraderie
Learn more about specific strategies for creating a healthy workplace environment here.
7. Regular Training and Development
Cutting costs might seem like the logical thing to do, but be mindful of the impact of those budget cuts. Offering development opportunities during tough times can actually be a strategic investment in the long-term success of your team!
Still, many companies continue to fall short in this area, providing insufficient tools for professional growth to employees. Research published by PWC shows that 52% of CEOs globally point to a lack of skills in their own workforce.
On the other hand, a recent Forbes study highlights that companies offering comprehensive training programs have a 218% higher income per employee. They also enjoy a 24% higher profit margin on average compared to other companies..
To learn more about the many dynamic ways in which you can improve employee engagement through training and development, check out this article.
8. Cultivating a Positive Work Culture
Don’t let the positive vibes dwindle when the company’s in a rut. Difficult times can quickly erode the sense of pride and belonging among your employees.
By continuing to support a culture of camaraderie and collaboration, you can help maintain morale high. Organize fun social events that strengthen the bonds between your teammates. Make space for team-building activities that spark creativity and inspiration. Celebrate achievements together. Show your team a sense of unity and direction.
Focusing on What’s Important
Tough times are all about leading by example. As a business executive, you have a big influence in eliminating the stressors that threaten your team’s performance. By keeping up good habits that foster workplace morale, you can help your employees become even more resilient.
Good luck in getting your team ready for the future!
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