In order for a business to be successful, there needs to be a whole range of different ingredients, which go into the recipe. The branding idea has to be different from anything else out there, customers need to be engaged, the product or service has to meet market needs, there needs to be competitive pricing in place, and the entire workforce has to be dedicated to one common aim - success.
We hear so much about productivity these days, but do you have any idea what really goes into making a business succeed? It’s not just about the thing that you’re selling or providing, it’s about how everything works behind the scenes too.
In order for your business to not only beat the competition, but also to make a great profit and have room for growth, you need to have a workforce who are happy, healthy, and engaged in their jobs. Gone are the times when staff simply turned up to work, did what they had to do, and went home, ready to be paid at the end of the month; these days, it’s about personal growth, career development, and giving people the opportunities to reach the potential that they probably never realised they had.
In order to do all of that, and much more, you need to have high levels of morale in your office.
Not sure why? Let’s discuss in a bit more detail.
What is Morale?
Morale is the mood within your office. It’s how people are feeling. If morale is low, your office will be a negative, quiet place. It will have an aura of darkness, even managing to give your funky grey office furniture a darker feel, and pulling the office into a state misery. Nobody will seem to want to be there, because they would much rather be anywhere else! Nobody is going to go the extra mile to make a project work, and there aren’t going to be many new ideas coming out of any area either.
On the other hand, when morale is high, new ideas are always flowing towards management, collaboration is on the up, communication is improved, people want to come to work, people want to make the business a success, and everyone is pulling in the same direction. There are less problems, less conflicts, and generally speaking, everything is much brighter and more positive.
When morale is low, productivity is equally as low. When morale is high, productivity is on the rise too. People are much more likely to go the extra mile and work harder if they care about the job they’re doing. People care when there is a high standard of office morale. Otherwise, the bare basics will be done, and nothing more.
How to Influence Office Morale
There are so many small things, which can easily influence morale, and these areas don’t even have to cost a fortune! Investing in the feel good factor of your staff will bring amazing results to your overall productivity levels, and ultimately, your profit margins too.
Here are a few areas to think about.
Make Sure Your Staff Are Comfortable
There is a very clear and direct link between productivity and how comfortable your staff are at their workstations. Think about this from a personal point of view - if you’re not comfortable at your office desk, if your chair is misaligned and you’re always experiencing back ache halfway through the day, are you going to be firing on all cylinders? No! You’re going to be wishing it was time to go home, and doing just enough to get through the day.
By ensuring that your staff are comfortable throughout their working day, you are giving them the foundation on which to work to their highest possible standards. This doesn’t just mean making sure that their office chairs are adjustable and that they have all the tools they need to do their job, it’s about providing a comfortable space for lunch and breaks too. Think about breakout spaces, outdoor garden seating during the summer months, a canteen which provides a break from their office desk, coffee facilities, etc. It’s about giving your staff what they need; not only meeting their basic requirements, but going one-step further.
In terms of morale, as a human being, if you believe someone cares about you, if you believe they are invested in you and your skills, you will always want to work harder for that person. We love to be encouraged, we love to feel valued. This is just human nature. By linking that into your working environment, you will instantly create a more positive atmosphere, and morale will instantly be on the rise.
Listen to Ideas & Encourage Collaboration
Too many managers say they are open to ideas, and pretend to listen to their staff, but in reality, they don’t listen at all. This strips away morale in any workplace, and causes staff to feel that they’re not listened to, that management don’t care about their ideas, and therefore why should they bother to work harder as a result? Would you want to go the extra mile for a Manager who shuts you down every time you come up with a new idea? Of course not!
By being open to new ideas, whether it is about the running of a project, a new way of working, or even about the office environment, always listen and be opened minded. If something sounds like a great idea, act on it. Of course, you might not be able to implement every new idea that comes your way, but by listening and explaining the situation, you can encourage new ideas for the future.
So, if a team member comes to you and gives you a great idea about how the office could be rearranged, perhaps implementing new mesh office chairs, or a new hot-desking arrangement, listen and be open minded to change.
In addition, always encourage collaboration between team members, as this is a potential hotbed of new ideas, which may bring fantastic results for the business. Productivity is always higher when collaboration is involved, and again, being valued and having a more positive working environment is fantastic for morale.
Have an Open Door Policy
We just mentioned about listening to ideas, but it is important for staff to feel that they can approach management if they have an issue or problem. An open door policy between staff and management is vital in terms of helping staff feel supported, and increasing morale as a result.
For instance, a member of staff might be struggling with aches and pains as a result of their workstation, and they’re too scared to come forward and mention it to their Manager. How is that going to make them feel? They’re going to be in pain, worried about where it may lead, and they’re not going to do their job to the best of their ability. On the other hand, if they felt they could approach their Manager and explain, a new office chair could be chosen for them, they will be comfortable, and they’ll feel valued and supported. Morale rises as a result.
Invest in the Training and Development of Your Staff
Encouraging your staff to develop their skills through further training is one of the best ways to boost morale. This shows that you care; it shows that you have the best interests of your staff at heart, and it also shows that you are supporting them for bigger and better things in the future.
A good way to do this is to ensure that your staff all go on regular training sessions, and perhaps set up an interactive training area within your office space. This means that staff can do online training sessions, research new industry news and topics, and bring all of that new knowledge to their jobs.
An interactive training area doesn’t take a huge amount of setting up. All you will need are some computers with the right software installed, ergonomic chairs for comfort and support, and perhaps office partitions for privacy. You can easily find equipment such as this, and there are many office furniture Kent options too if you are based in that area.
Do you have any other ideas on how a modern workplace can influence staff morale? It’s really all about giving staff what they need to do their jobs correctly and comfortably, whilst helping them to feel supported and valued in every aspect of their role. By encouraging staff to learn and develop their skills, you are also showing them that you are invested in their future, and again, that calls out to the human basic need to be valued.
Morale is so vitally important to any workplace, and without a high level of morale, there is never going to be a huge amount of success. People want to enjoy their work, and why not? We spend so many hours at our office desks, that it’s not only about being comfortable, it’s about enjoying what you do at the same time.