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Have you noticed your employees seemingly dragging themselves into work each day? Is office laughter something you rarely hear anymore? If you answered yes to either of these questions, it’s possible your employees’ morale is swirling the proverbial bowl.

Employee morale can make or break a business. When your employees aren’t happy at work, it can lead to reduced productivity, poor cooperation, and high staff turnover. Ultimately, it can make it difficult for a company to reach its goals.

Since employee satisfaction has such a significant impact on an organization’s success, good employers pay close attention to it and utilize effective and creative strategies to keep their workers happy. Here are a few things you could do to improve morale in your business:

Recognize a Job Well Done

One of the easiest ways to boost the mood in your company is to recognize hard work. Institute a rewards program and present employees with thoughtful corporate gifts in acknowledgement of a job well done.

Recognition is a powerful tool. It not only motivates people to work hard, but it also increases employee satisfaction. It sends a message to the individual as well as the team that hard work is both expected and appreciated. Rewarding exceptional performance will encourage continued success.

Help Employees Feel Their Contribution Matters

Many people like to feel as if their position is more than just a job, and that they have a higher purpose in life than just the 9-to-5 grind. By allowing your staff to have a voice in the day-to-day operations of the company, you give them a sense that their ideas are important and that they have an impact on the group’s success.

When your employees feel like they make a difference, they are happy to work harder to make the workplace a success.

Encourage and Assist Continued Learning

Advancements in technology occur quickly in the business world, elevating continued learning from a “nice to have” to a necessity. Allowing employees to further their education and training – either in their current positions, or in additional key competencies – helps them master new skills and ensures they can make an even greater contribution to, and impact on the company. Your employees will feel great knowing that you’re investing in their professional development, and be happier and more motivated.

Mix it Up

Taking a break from the regular routine once in a while shakes things up a bit and keeps office life from getting too mundane. For instance, the next time you need to have a company-wide meeting, try turning it into a working lunch at a local restaurant, or even hold a potluck picnic instead!

You know what they say. “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.” Dedicate a specific time for the important stuff, then let loose with good food, some enjoyable activities, and plenty of socializing amongst the staff.

Foster Positive Attitudes

The workplace is often a source of stress and negativity. Deadlines, strict bosses and office rivalries can lead to a poor attitude that’s hard to overcome.

Help your employees think positively with inspirational training, motivational speakers or team building exercises. Encourage them to discuss the feelings and thoughts they invoke. Your team will come away with a renewed sense of positivity, motivation, and a feeling of positivity.

Employee morale has a direct impact on a company’s success. When employees are happy, they work harder and more productively. As an employer, you can use the suggestions above to increase morale in your organization.