5 Simple Ways to Build Team Morale
Team morale isn't merely an indicator of how happy your team members are; it mirrors how healthy your company culture is, how strong your communication channels are, and how proficient your managers are.
Employees can only build teams with high morale when they show their commitment to care for their employees. That commitment is translated to the ability of your team members to bring their best selves to work, regardless of whether they are working in-person or remotely.
The need to err on the side of empathy is often overlooked. However, the willingness of the company to show empathy ensures that there is a safe space for their people to get support.
Here's sharing 5 simple ways that everyone can use to boost your team morale::
#1. Schedule regular 1-on-1 sessions
Regular communication is one of the most powerful ways to improve team morale. Research from 15Five's Workplace Report revealed that 82% of employees with at least weekly 1-on-1 sessions "say that they are getting the support they need during the pandemic from their managers", compared to 66% of those with less frequent one-on-ones.
Keeping up with this on a consistent basis might seem tedious and unsustainable if you are not well-equipped with the right structure and processes to make it a habit.
In light of that, come up with a basic framework for what will be covered during the 1-on-1 sessions. This helps set expectations for the meeting and ensures that the time set aside for the session will be put to good use. Over time, these 1-on-1 sessions will be a safe space for employees to air their feedback, share their challenges, and develop trust.
2. Establish communication channels for feedback
Feedback is often associated with a negative connotation and a "one-way street" for managers to list down the things that employees need to change. However, the power of feedback is seen when both employees and managers have open communication channels to freely discuss their opinions. That is when improvement can be made, where each improvement brings the team a step closer to higher performance levels.
Gallup's stance on feedback is that it is a "surprisingly powerful approach to self-development, especially when it’s part of basic performance management. It can even be considered a deliverable—the last step of a project. Regardless, requested feedback allows teams to demonstrate the care that everyone needs to feel engaged.”
Establishing a culture where feedback is vital and is the norm allows employees (and managers alike) to develop self-awareness of their development and change their approach or behaviours accordingly which benefits the morale of the team. As team members witness their own development and growth, they become invested in that process, which contributes to a higher engagement level.
3. Equip your managers to develop a coaching mindset
Effective managers know how to band their group of people together to work toward a goal. They do not solely focus on aiming for higher performance but also understand the value of bringing out the best in their people.
Imagine how it would boost team morale when the team is confident that their managers are committed to their growth, and not just their output. This evokes an innate motivation in employees to source for opportunities where they can best develop and also enables managers to compel their teams to scale new heights.
Equipping your pool of managers (the very people who set the culture in their teams) to adopt a coaching mindset of developing their people can prove to be a game-changing way of helping your company remain agile even during tumultuous periods.
4. Equip your managers to develop a coaching mindset
To set your teams up for success in their designated roles, the responsibility lies on the company to provide them with all the tools and resources to get the job done well.
Programs that specialise in team development are part of that. This includes strategic team-building sessions that can target specific team objectives. The great thing is that this investment in team development initiatives can be applicable and relevant for teams who are working remotely or have a hybrid arrangement.
A company that consistently budgets for team development initiatives and chooses the right team-building programs is bound to reap the rewards in employees who come to work highly engaged and committed to the company's cause.
5. Express your appreciation publicly
Public appreciation of your team members is the highest form of acknowledging their job well done. It is a public recognition of their efforts and a celebration of their little wins.
The thing about appreciation is that it can be spontaneous and simple. According to research conducted by the Harvard Business Review, a single thank you can boost your team’s productivity by up to 10%. In addition, there is an increase in the likelihood that team members will go the extra mile by 4% during the following week.
When done publicly, the impact of it is exponential and can be an adrenaline boost to team morale that keeps employees engaged, motivated, and creative.
Final Thoughts
An environment where your team members feel supported and motivated is an environment that allows them to perform at their highest potential. Use these methods to build your team morale consistently and see your team members thrive.
Written by Rachel Chai
Connectedness • Empathy • Strategic • Belief • Context
Rachel is a Strengths School™ Certified Strengths Trainer and the Content Lead at Strengths School™. Being deeply introspective, she believes in helping others draw connections between how their unique strengths play out in their lives.
