Employee morale counts for quite a lot in any business. This week, the Synergy Marketing Blog has been exploring this topic in an effort to help your company become that much more productive. We know a thing or two about employee morale, here at Synergy. Firstly, our promotional products are quite often used as awards in offices throughout Canada to acknowledge those who are performing at high standards.

As mentioned in Monday’s blog, the handing out of awards is a great way to boost spirits in any office space. Secondly, our staff is comprised of some of the most energetic and enthusiastic workers in any industry. We know, first hand, that a motivated staff that works in a high-morale environment is the most productive staff you can ask for. On the IAAP website, Kathryn Hawkins seems to agree.

She writes that boosting morale is a surefire way to build a better workplace. In yesterday’s blog, we looked at several unique ways that this can be accomplished. Giving your staff time to play, keeping your kitchen stocked and making sure that your employees aren’t overworked are just a few of them. In today’s blog, we’d like to explore some more of Hawkins’ suggestions.

Bring your team together for out-of-office events. “When there’s friction at the office, a day together off the job could be just what’s needed to relax the tension and boost your employees’ moods,” writes Hawkins. This isn’t much different than the class field trip concept. Think about how excited you used to get when you were in school and knew that you had a day coming up when you would get to spend outside of class.

Excursions, field trips and other out-of-office activities are fun. They are great ways to help for your staff members to get to know each other better while feeling better about the company they all work for. To get the most out of these events, “consider activities in which your employees will need to rely on one another for help in fulfilling a common goal”, says Hawkins.

Give employees more input into how the company runs. Employees want to know that they matter. The easiest way to confirm that this is the case is to keep them informed. Offer all of your staff members the opportunity to express their opinions and offer feedback about the workplace. Don’t ignore their suggestions. They may help for you to see things in ways you didn’t before.

Perhaps your office will run more efficiently if you implement some of their ideas. There’s nothing wrong with accepting feedback from even your lowest-level employees. Help them to feel that they are accountable and that their contributions have value. They will take greater pride in being your employees which will, in turn, encourage them to work harder.

Advocate for your staff. It’s important to stand up for your employees, says Hawkins. Believe it or not, the customer isn’t actually always right. If you notice a customer mistreating your employee, be sure to move in (with a smile) to his or her defence. This shows both respect and professionalism. Even if potential business is lost, you will have secured your staff member as an integral part of the team.