If you are wondering why you can’t seem to reach the next plateau with your business it could be something very simple, the office morale. A low morale can directly affect production, increase office turnovers and prevent you from achieving your growth potential. Luckily, there are many ways to create a work environment where employees care about the product they deliver and about meeting deadlines.
A Break Room
While you may have break schedules in place, if your employees hang at their desk for 15-20 minutes they aren’t stretching or clearing their minds. Creating a separate space where they can relax, shut their eyes or even converse with other co-workers allows them to achieve a calm sense. When they return they feel energized and ready to tackle problems.
Longer Lunches
Going hand-in-hand with the breakroom, a longer lunch period will allow employees to leave the building, get fresh air and clear their heads. It also lets them relax and actually enjoy eating their lunch. A 30-45 minute lunch hour doesn’t provide enough time to go out, get lunch and eat before they are due back to work. This is especially true if your business is in a congested area with a lot of traffic.
Reward Programs
Just like, you as a business owner want to make more money, so do your employees. A great way to accomplish both is to develop a rewards program wherein you pay additional monies and hand out trophies for meeting goals. By doing this your employees have something to motivate them to take your business to the next level. They are in some ways getting to eat a piece of the pie. You can create different programs for certain times of the year, perhaps when your business is usually at the lowest point for sales.
A Place to Work and Enjoy
If you want employees to enjoy coming to work you need to improve the environment. Adding small extras like a coffee maker, a small refrigerator, and a coat rack creates a comfortable workplace. These small additions eliminate the need for purchasing a coffee on the way in, buying lunch and keeping your outwear at your desk. Many companies have family picnics, bring your child to work day and casual Fridays. These are just a few ways that you can give employees a sense that this is their second home.
Suggestion Box
Don’t underestimate the power of a suggestion box. Many large successful companies enjoy the many benefits. First, it gives your employees a chance to have a voice, making them feel like part of the team. Second, it can lead to real changes by giving you an insight into the internal processes, encourage creative and offers fresh ideas and different perspectives. Third, it makes people feel that what they think matters, especially if you implement one of the suggested improvements or changes.
Multiple Breaks
When you work in a busy, fast-paced office after a few hours of constant thinking, you begin to mentally and physically break down. When this happens it leads to lower productivity. A quick fix is to instate mid-morning and mid-afternoon breaks. This allows workers to get up out of their seat and stretch, clear their mind and get their blood pumping, which restores energy levels.
Advancement Opportunities
Most employees want to move up the corporate ladder. The best way to keep the morale up and your employees interested in creating the best product is to hire from within. This creates an environment with plenty of room for advancement and an increase in their salary. If also encourages employees to get a higher education so that they can fill a position just above the learning level. Long-term employees who start at the bottom and slowly advance towards the top have the advantage of knowing how important each job is and they take this knowledge with them to each position, having an appreciation for every aspect of the company.
If you are unable to achieve projected goals and take your company to the next level look no further than the office morale. By making a few changes like rewarding employees monetarily and with trophies for accomplishments, adding mid-morning and mid-day breaks, and encouraging suggestions, you can retain valuable employees who in turn will work hard for you.
