Page 47 - How to Motivate Every Employee

Morale is out of your control

Boost morale

M orale has to do with the enthusiam and commitment people
bring to their jobs everyday. It affects their motivation to perform.
Low morale = low motivation. High morale = high motivation. It may
not be quite that simple, but there is a direct correlation between
morale and motivation.
Every organization depends the relationships that its people have
among one another. A high-morale workplace needs to be built on
the concepts of trust and integrity. But it’s not enough for you to
trust your employees. They’ve got to trust you as well. Employees
want to believe that their managers are looking out for their best
interests. And the way that happens is for them to experience it
everyday on the job. The great thing about this is that the employees
(nearly all of them, anyway) will want to reciprocate, looking out for
your and the organization’s best interests.
Remember that your people are your greatest and most valuable
resource. You may have hired them for their aptitudes, but the key
to higher performance lies in their attitudes. The more you can do
to build a high-morale workplace, while instilling trust in your
employees, the more motivated they will be. Let’s look at some ways
you can do this throughout your organization:

Do what you say you will do: Be short on promises and long on ful-
fillment. Nothing builds trust more than having your words and
actions match. Good intentions aren’t enough. Tell your employees
you care, and then match that up with deeds that demonstrate it
everyday. High morale will follow naturally.

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