Question
“My company has been through a couple of really rough quarters. As a result, my employees are suffering from pretty low morale. I want to help motivate them, but I don’t have a lot of spare cash to offer them fancy perks. What can I do?”
Reader responses
Prem Malik, Merchant Capital Wealth Management:
It is normal for companies to go through some tough times. Communication — being open and honest with everyone and at all times — will keep all employees working toward the same goal with the same message. Communication brings respect, which is one of the most motivating factors for any human being.
Katherine Taylor, Taylor-Made Memories:
It doesn’t take fancy perks to raise morale. In fact, people just want to know that they are valued and appreciated and not being kept in the dark, as they may be afraid of losing their jobs. Showing appreciation each day keeps morale high, and keeping your employees aware of situations (as much as they need to know) is important. People also like to know they are contributing, so consider asking the employees to help you solve the problem. You will be amazed at the outcome.
Finally, one great book to read is Gung Ho!: Turn On the People in Any Organization by Ken Blanchard. It’s an awesome book and an easy read.
Jack Rozendaal, DeVry Greenhouses Ltd.:
I recommend getting everybody to read and then discuss the following books: Gung Ho!: Turn On the People in Any Organization by Ken Blanchard and It’s Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy by Michael Abrashoff.
Bill Kennedy, Serenic Software Canada:
Don’t underestimate the power of time off! Employees working a lot of long hours get hit two ways: from work exhaustion and from missed family time. Give your staff a chance to spend a long weekend with their spouse and/or family. Depending on your budget, you could add a gift certificate to a local restaurant or movie passes. If you were to add a hand-written note thanking each one for putting in the extra effort, that will go a long way to improving morale.
For his answer, Bill Kennedy will receive a copy of Help Wanted: The Complete Guide to Human Resources for Canadian Entrepreneurs by Margaret Butteriss.
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