It’s a new year, and that means you’re likely assessing the past year and determining what you can do differently – and better – in the year to come. If you’re like most business owners or managers, the morale of your company is a hugely important focus for your company. This year, set some resolutions that center on building morale among your employees and corporate culture. Here are a few of our favorites:
Make your employees feel like their work is not just “a job.”
It happens in every company; employees feel a disconnection between their role in the business and the “job” they do on a daily basis. That’s why it’s so important to make sure each of your employees feels that his or her role is critical in forwarding the goals and success of the business. Turn the focus this year to your employees’ contributions to the company. Whether that includes sending out a weekly, monthly or quarterly newsletter highlighting specific employee success stories or hosting “town hall” style meetings to share success stories and brainstorm ideas for future success, putting the spotlight on your employees – and their roles in your company – is a great idea for 2016.
Celebrate the small stuff.
It’s easy for employees to start feeling like their contributions to the company are overlooked. But they don’t have to. You’ll be surprised how easy it can be to give your employees a morale boost, simply by celebrating your employees’ accomplishments regularly. You could do this in a number of ways, from an awards ceremony once a quarter to a lunchtime party each month. For some recognition that really makes an impression, host a special gala night to recognize and celebrate your employees’ accomplishments.
Don’t settle for “business as usual.”
So your company has always done the same thing; it’s always held a quarterly awards ceremony and the same old holiday party. This year, resolve to not settle for the status quo. Think outside the box and question all those things your company always does. Don’t be afraid to be more creative this year; your employees will respond to your efforts to mix things up a bit and make sure their job isn’t just a “job” in 2016. Think up some extra special employee events or even a teambuilding workshop or retreat. You’ll be amazed how much your employees will appreciate the change of pace.
Cultivate positivity.
If you’re looking to improve employee morale this year, start by thinking positively – and then spreading that positivity. There are several ways you can go about this, and your tactics will likely depend on your company’s unique culture. Some ideas that might work might include making and distributing videos or newsletters from the CEO or upper management that communicate a positive message.
Align your goals.
For your business to succeed, you’ll want to ensure that your employees’ individual goals align with the company’s goals. And that means communicating these effectively. Create a “campaign” to promote the company’s goals, then challenge your employees to make goals that will contribute to them over the course of the next year. There’s nothing like working together to reach a common goals to really bring people together.
Get out of town.
Want a reason to play hooky? An employee retreat is the perfect way to build your team’s morale and to build trust within the organization. Plan a few days out of town (or at least out of the office!) that includes both fun and trust-building activities. Stumped? We can help. When you work with CLI groups, we’ll plan everything – from transportation to accommodations to food to activities, so you can focus on building your business.
Your turn: how are you building morale in 2016?
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