Keeping morale high is always a challenge, but it’s been even more challenging this year. COVID-19 has had a huge impact on how and where we work. With all the uncertainty, it’s important for companies to take extra steps to ensure employees are motivated and in a positive frame of mind.
Fall and winter are traditionally times of the year when it’s easy for people to feel a little down. The weather is getting colder, and it’s dark and dreary outside. Productivity can also take a nosedive.
Here are some simple yet effective ways to keep morale high as we transition into fall and winter:
It’s a lot easier to maintain morale than trying to bring your team out of the dumps. Once morale is low, it can be an uphill battle to win them back. Look for ways to keep morale high all year round. If you sense things are changing, address it as soon as possible.
Flexibility is always appreciated by employees. It can be argued that being flexible is mandatory and necessary today to manage COVID challenges. Allowing your employees to have some flexibility in their work schedules (where it makes sense) can help keep them motivated and engaged.
Now is the time to celebrate the small wins and accomplishments around the office. Celebrate milestones, birthdays, and professional accomplishments. Recognize people for going above and beyond. It’s important to show your team you are paying attention and you care.
It can’t be all about business all the time. Come up with ideas to keep things fun and fresh. Whether you are working on location or your team is remote, there are a lot of ways to inject some energy. Some ideas include:
If you are not sure what to do, ask your team to come up with ideas. This way, you’ll actually do the activities they enjoy and find fun.
Making your employees’ health and wellness a priority has never been more important. COVID, constant change, the feeling of isolation due to working from home, and many other factors can negatively impact morale. Offering wellness perks and offering ways for employees to prioritize their health can help give them a boost.
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IQ PARTNERS is an Executive Search & Recruitment firm supporting clients across the country. We help companies hire better, hire less & retain more. We have specialist teams of recruiters in Executive Search / Board & C-Suite, Technology, Media, Digital & Marketing, Accounting & Finance, Financial Services & Insurance, Cannabis, Startup, Data Science, Consumer, eCommerce & Retail, Operations & HR, Manufacturing, Supply Chain & Engineering, Legal & Professional Services, Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences, Non-Profit & Sustainability, and Sales. IQ PARTNERS has its head office in Toronto. Click here to view current job openings and to register with us.
Rhys is a VP, Client Services of IQ PARTNERS‘ Sales practice and leads the SalesForce Search recruitment team. He specializes in prospecting new business relationships, client retention and renewals, and building top performing Sales teams in even the most challenging environments.