Morale Boosters in a Down Economy

Times of economic uncertainty can raise employee insecurity and reduce productivity. As a result, the whole business suffers. But maintaining a positive atmosphere is easier than you might think—and you can often do so without spending a penny. Here’s how you can improve attitudes and productivity no matter what is happening with the economy.

Monitor morale. Keeping tabs on how employees are feeling doesn’t cost anything—just make time to listen. Talking to your employees one-on-one can help get to the root of problems. And expressing genuine concern is one of the most powerful ways to reverse a morale slump in a rapidly changing marketplace, says Chip Bell, coauthor of Managers as Mentors: Building Partnerships for Learning and founder of The Chip Bell Group in Dallas. Even if you don’t suspect a problem right now, regularly check in with employees and ask how they’re doing.

Show appreciation. Revel in employees’ contributions, large and small. Giving credit where it’s due can be just as effective a reward as shelling out cold, hard cash. And although it’s not the most innovative idea, it’s one that’s underused, says Bob Nelson, Ph.D., author of 1001 Ways to Reward Employees and president of Nelson Motivation Inc. in San Diego. “Common sense is often not common practice,” he says. Whether you recognize employees in person, through a written note or publicly at a staff meeting, do it in a timely, sincere manner.

Engage employees. Seeking fresh ideas to boost business during this critical time? Pick your employees’ brains. After all, they’re usually closer to customers and to any problems that might arise, Nelson says. Perhaps they can develop a successful solution for streamlining your shipping process. Or maybe they have a new social networking strategy in mind. Empowering them to tap into their creative problem-solving abilities gives them a sense of ownership and achievement—which can better help your business weather the economic downturn. To get the creative juices flowing, Nelson recommends that business owners organize a lunch meeting focused on a specific topic—such as cost-saving initiatives—and encourage everyone to bring two ideas.

Improve communication. Speculation, gossip and ignorance breed insecurity. Build trust by keeping employees in the loop with frequent, upfront communication regarding the business and the overall marketplace. Explain how decisions are made, how the company makes and loses money, how you determine the bottom line and how each employee fits into the overall plan. Let employees know you’re always available to listen to their concerns. After all, “there’s never been a time when honesty and candor were more important,” Bell says.

Break bad news. Let’s face it: In these uncertain times, you may be forced to announce not-so-pleasant news such as layoffs or pay cuts. The best way to deliver this information? Be upfront. “The more candid, direct and honest you are, the better,” Bell says. In fact, “If you sugarcoat your message, employees start to wonder what you’re not telling them.” Perhaps most importantly, talk to employees before speaking to the media. “People don’t want to hear it from the paper,” Nelson says. “They want to hear it from their manager.”

Think outside the box. Get creative. It’s possible to boost employees’ attitudes without breaking the bank, according to Bell and Nelson. How? Name a policy after an employee. Compensate deserving staffers with flexible schedules or the occasional three-day weekend—they’ll value the personal time. Have a few extra dollars to spend? Make a donation to a charity that’s especially meaningful to employees—or to a college or university where one of your employees graduated. And remember: Staffers always love tried-and-true rewards such as being treated to lunch or coffee. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

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