4 Tips for Boosting Morale and Productivity

A majority of Americans are feeling uncomfortable about the economy. Fourteen million are still unemployed. Moreover, myriads of companies continue to cut back and ask more of their employees. One company requires technicians to work 12-hour shifts 6 to 7 day weeks. Things are appearing dismal affecting morale and interoffice workplace productivity.

It is important to realize that with so many unemployed there is little workforce improvement yet this does not bode well for unhappy staff. Once issues become stable, attrition will rear its ugly head. People do not leave bad companies; they leave bad people, managers, leaders etc. To mitigate issues present and future it is vital for organizations to communicate. Communication is easier today with the proliferation of mobile and Internet resources; therefore there is little excuse not to.

With this in mind, one might ask what are the most effective items to communicate and how. Here is a succinct list to help improve your morale and productivity.

• Strategic Intent. Strategy dies when it sits on a shelf. Organizations are the steering wheel for the company’s destiny but the employees are the wind in the sail. Take out the air and there is little velocity. It is imperative that employees understand the mission, vision and value to feel pride and ownership. Strategic implementation exists when all are passionate for the cause.
  When Southwest Airlines was this fledgling little puddle jumper in the 1970’s management and employees worked collaboratively to create a valued and known brand. All worked and still work passionately to deliver uncompromised customer service.
  
• Employee Involvement. Employees crave the ability to make decisions and assist in the firm’s future success. When employees are involved with organizational decisions morale is drastically increased.
  FedEx and UPS both create environments where employees are empowered to make the necessary decisions that provide overnight service from point A to point B.
  
• Customer Involvement. Customers are often underutilized. Customers work directly with the driven and the sloths. Avoid the bromides of customer surveys and speak with your clients to determine your assets. Use customer testimonials to indicate the firm’s culture.
  Use testimonials during organizational meetings to inform employees of the great jobs conducted by peers.
  
• Mobile Media. With computers and mechanization now entering a sixth generation, the increase of email usage and mobile devices positively affects how organizations can communicate. Cellular phones, instant messaging, email and social tools such as Twitter are a brief list of tactical methods to remain in contact with employees. The increase of information suggests there is little excuse not to communicate.
  Zappos is an innovative company that increasingly uses Twitter to provide imperative corporate information to its employees. In addition, U.S. President Barack Obama uses email, Facebook and Twitter to remain with pollsters and the American public.
  

The bottom line is that the core assets for any organization aside from clients are employees. Employee production allows for work efficiency and revenue. Yet when morale decreases so does revenue. Speed and velocity are maintained by allowing employees to operate at optimum levels. The required fuel is communication. Mastering production requires messages that empower, enlighten and enthuse organizational effectiveness.