Boosting employee morale and productivity requires creating and maintaining effective communication channels from the top down--a process that involves organizational planning and meticulous implementation at all levels. To be sustainable and successful, these communication strategies must, over time, become an integral part of the company's work culture and philosophy.
- Companies where news and information is disseminated via the grapevine must deal with the consequences of playing "Chinese Whispers"--misinformation, fear, suspicion, loss of morale and decreased productivity. This is far more pronounced during tough times. For example, a firm that combats recession by laying off employees in a seemingly random and arbitrary manner, where strong performance does not appear to indicate job security, unwittingly creates an environment of fear and falling morale. Executives often don't realize that simple, informal communication with employees on the company's course of action will lead to a stronger, more stress-free, more loyal and more close-knit organization. Employees are smart adults who can handle inconvenient truth, which they prefer over deception or secrecy.
- Employees are more productive when they know what they're working toward--as an individual and as a team, what the organization's goals are, and how exactly they contribute toward organizational success. Executives must communicate--clearly and periodically--what the company's short-term and long-term focus and priorities are, how tight the budget and other resources are, and what the ethical expectations are while achieving the company's goals. Such clear communication will empower employees with a sense of direction and purpose.
- Herb Baum and Tammy L. King write in "The Transparent Leader: How to Build a Great Company Through Straight Talk, Openness, and Accountability": "In a crisis situation, being transparent can work for you in a lot of ways, and how open you are when you initially respond--and how quickly you respond--will make all the difference in the world. Companies who haven't been totally transparent in their day-to-day operations will have a hard time hiding that fact when a crisis hits. If you're not open and honest, everyone will eventually know."
The first step in achieving organizational transparency and honesty is by being transparent and honest with the people who report to you. Win their confidence and trust by sharing with them, both informally and via formal communication, the company's challenges and crisis situations. Improve employee morale by asking for their input. Discuss with them how they can help the company overcome the crisis. Be respectful and listen to feedback. - Recognize and openly appreciate good work. A genuine word of praise at a team meeting, a handwritten note of congratulations or a letter of appreciation sent companywide to commend an employee on a job well done will not only boost the individual's morale, but will motivate others in the organization to be more productive, thereby shoring up the company's level of output and profitability.
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