As the year comes to a close and the temps and daylight hours decrease, you might notice a corresponding dip in the mood, morale and motivation of coworkers. Colleagues may not show the same enthusiasm over collaborative projects and business goals as they did back in January. Customer service can be more challenging at year's end if the stress of approaching holidays weighs heavily on your client's mind.
Low morale in the workplace can lead to:
- Decreased productivity
- Increased absenteeism
- Increased interpersonal conflicts
- Dissatisfied customers
- High employee turnover
Whether seasonal affective disorder (SAD), end-of-year blues, or just a natural dip in energy levels as the year winds down, you and those you work with may benefit from an injection of inspiration. Put a few of these morale-boosting ideas to the test to help the people who support you greet the new year with renewed dedication and enthusiasm.
Don't discount the significant effect small tokens of appreciation and acknowledgment can have. Consider crafting a handwritten note to everyone in the office expressing gratitude for things that took place this year.
Be specific and personal in your communication. The more aware you are of what motivates individual employees, the easier it will be for you to hone in on precisely what needs to be expressed for maximum impact.
Getting off the property and interacting with coworkers in a fun, casual way can foster supportive relationships and better teamwork back at the office. It's essential for employees to feel that their opinions count, so let the crew suggest and then vote on ideas for company play dates. It could be a trip to the bowling alley, a high-end restaurant meal, or volunteering as a group with a local animal shelter.
Many people incur added expenses associated with holiday gift-giving, travel, and larger food bills. There's probably no time when extra cash is more appreciated than the year's last quarter. Unexpected financial gifts to employees can help lead to higher productivity and increased loyalty, but rewarding with free time is also effective.
Employee advancement and empowering professional development are crucial to creating an engaged workforce. Lack of career development opportunities can be a reason for employee turnover. Losing an employee is costly to your business because you must recruit and train a replacement.
Make it easy for eligible employees to pursue academic degrees or change career tracks altogether by allocating money for online learning programs, conferences, and certifications. Consider assisting with tuition, travel expenses, books, and supplies and reap the rewards of a more skilled, competent, and dedicated workforce.
