Find the Real Cause of Low Employee Morale


Posted January 16, 2017

Morale is defined as a person's frame of mind based on their feelings and attitudes.

In the workplace, morale involves a person's perspective and mindset towards the job, surroundings, co-workers, supervisors and the company as a whole. Positive worker morale is generally evident in employee confidence, concentration and desire to perform, while low morale is marked by low productivity, conflict and constant doubting.

Morale can be an elusive quality, and no single factor can explain high or low morale. Rather, it can be explained by a combination of related factors.

A lack of communication

A communication breakdown can drive employees and managers insane, crushing morale in the process.

To help prevent or reverse morale issues, supervisors need to invest some time in making sure they are understood, and they understand their employees. Effective supervisors communicate extensively and invite discussion both in-person and at staff meetings. Having both an open forum and one-on-one face time available to them, workers can express concerns and also give input; making them feel like they are a part of the company’s success.

A lack of trust

If relationships with your workers aren’t based in trust, they will be suspicious of everything you say and do. Even genuine acknowledgments could be seen as manipulative, and that can be a morale killer.

Building trusting connections with your people takes time, persistence and strong ethics. Supervisors always need to be developing a culture of trust through their own actions. How resources are allocated, new employees are hired, and current workers are rewarded, disciplined and terminated all affect the trust between a staff and their boss.

A lack of respect                                             

A simple but effective way to keep morale high is to show employees more respect, a big part of which is communicating your expectations and steering clear of micromanaging. Employees generally react well to having clear expectations and the permission to fail occasionally without fear of excessive discipline. Respected workers are more attentive, innovative and productive. When they do get something wrong, they'll correct it and move on with confidence, being careful not to make the same mistake again.

A lack of expression

Employees might also be feeling nonplussed about their jobs because they aren't being given the chance to contribute creatively. Once you've constructed trusting partnerships and created a foundation of value, workers will quickly respond with more creativity. An easy way to foster and reap the benefits of their new-found creativity is to remember that 'there are no bad ideas, only undeveloped ones.'

Trusted and respected workers with supervisors who support attempts to try new things will bring new solutions to life. The best part is: You get this innovation for the same price you’re paying unsatisfied workers who are doing only enough to collect a paycheck.

At Ambassador Personnel, we address another big driver of low morale - too much work. If your company is in need of a talent acquisition solution, please contact us today to work with a full-service staffing firm.