Managing Company Morale In Times Of Change

Managing Company Morale In Times Of Change

Organizational change can take its toll on company morale. This could be staff turnover, making layoffs, or changes in roles and responsibilities. The change could involve new software, rules, tasks, or business processes. Navigating all of this can be difficult for both employees and managers.

Change can create a lot of confusion. It can impact productivity and motivation. It can even increase staff absenteeism and staff turnover. Keeping a high level of employee motivation and morale during times of change requires looking at all the factors that make employees feel committed to their work.

Employee Trust

This report found that 55% of employees say that trust between management and employees is very important to job satisfaction. However, only 27% of employees said that they felt trust in their own organization.

Trust is absolutely crucial if you want to run a successful company. Work stressors can come in many forms. You never know when there will be changes in finances or job security. Managers need to understand how to combat these outside forces and maintain a good mood in the workplace.

Keep Open Communication

Transparency is always an important practice. The importance of transparency is heightened when there are a lot of work changes. If management is not openly discussing big company news that could affect employees, then trust will be severed.

If there is a lack of transparency, then rumors and gossip are likely to spread like wildfire. A good practice could be holding open discussions where questions are invited. These should be scheduled regularly. Try to create an open dialogue.

HR has an important role to play when it comes to presenting honest information about any changes in policies, pay, or staff retention. If a company is downsizing or facing budget cuts, HR may want to look for the best outplacement services. This will help laid off employees to find work elsewhere.

Help Staff To Feel Valued

This leadership study found that most employees had no idea if they were doing a good job or not. Never underestimate the power of recognizing an employee’s hard work. Morale is likely to be really affected by how valued people feel at work.

HR could devise programs for recognizing employee achievements. This could include elements of gamification to make it fun and engaging. Make sure that employees know that they are meeting expectations. This way, they will feel more secure.

If your company is implementing a hiring freeze, staff could start to feel insecure. Make sure they know where they stand. It is natural for people to assume the worst.

Have Fun At Work

Major changes at work can make people feel like there are a lot of elements out of their control. They can start to feel very insecure about their job. Companies can find creative ways to show that they are dedicated to their staff.

HR has an important role to play when it comes to planning events. This could include fun out-of-office activities. This could be as simple as going to the local doughnut shop, or it could be a long hike through the mountains.

Out-of-office bonding helps to boost team morale. These kinds of fun activities can be a display of loyalty to your staff. HR can also organize long weekends or half-days as a reward for hard work. You could also organize awards events, where staff are rewarded for their achievements at work.

Focus On Team-Building

It is more than likely that a lot of work tensions will arise during times of seismic change. It’s important to keep your team unified. There are ways to make everyone feel like they are close to each other and committed to the company.

Team members could be signed up for an escape room. You could even create your own in the office. Team games could be hosted in the office. Think about games that will encourage teamwork and problem solving.

There are also ways that your team members can be encouraged to share more about themselves. You could start a wall at work where people can share photos and stories. This could be split into different topics, such as my first day at work, my biggest work project, and my personal hobbies.

You can also have group chats or online forums. You can have a group chat that is more serious and work related. You can also have one that is much more informal, where people share details of their lives outside of work.

Create A Positive Work Atmosphere

The layout of a workplace can have a big effect on the team. Having some fake plants and motivational posters won’t necessarily make people feel comfortable. Having a relaxation room or a healthy snack bar could be a great addition to the workplace.

You could play some light and uplifting music to help employees to feel positive. Find a way to provide peer-to-peer recognition at work. This could mean having a gong or a bell that can be struck when someone hits their targets or achieves a goal.

The Role Of HR

HR can help with fostering a sense of collaboration at work. Organizations thrive when they have a diverse team. HR is responsible for hiring team members who will contribute to a positive work atmosphere and provide diversity. HR can help with conflict resolution by implementing relevant policies and enforcing discipline when needed.

HR can help with setting up transparent mechanisms that allow for clear communication at all levels. HR can provide training that will help staff to manage their stress levels. HR can set up appropriate reward systems that will help team members to feel valued. Finally, HR can organize fun events and team-building activities.

In Summary

During times of change, it is essential to focus on keeping company morale high. This can be achieved in a number of ways. It is vital to build trust at work and to maintain open lines of communication. It is important to actively encourage team members and make them feel valued.

There are many ways that you can incorporate team-building into the workplace. Making some adjustments to the ambiance at work could help to create a more positive atmosphere. HR has a big role to play in keeping company morale high.