Remote working is no longer ‘our new normal’; it is just normal. Ideally, many of us have found ways to settle into remote working by creating a schedule, setting a routine to structure our days, and make the overall experience smoother. However, over a year later, since many of us left the office, it is important to still acknowledge that remote working signifies both pros and cons for your employees. While many may enjoy avoiding the morning commute or being able to go for a walk and stretch on our break, the times that we are living through come with some inevitable challenges.

The way to aid your employees in tackling some of these challenges, at least when it comes to work, is to boost employee morale. It is widely accepted that creating a positive environment where your staff is happy and motivated enhances productivity. However, I would encourage you to think about boosting your employees’ morale not just for the sake of your business but for the sake of your team members as individuals. There are little things you can do as an employer to help your staff feel connected, valued and encourage a sense of job satisfaction.

HOW TO boost employee morale:

1. COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE

When it comes to remote working, risking over communication is safer than potentially leaving your staff feeling in the dark. There is one caveat though, ensure you are effectively communicating, choosing a suitable method for more sensitive topics, and knowing when a conversation needs to be private as opposed to public. When it comes to leading your team, communicate with your staff about their specific goals and tasks, you can help your staff see the bigger picture with updates on current projects, clients, and even the overall company mission. Look out for your employees, this can be achieved by regular check-ins, and this might help you identify potential disengagement before it becomes an issue. If you want your employees to trust you, your communication needs to be clear; being transparent is imperative.

2. CELEBRATE YOUR EMPLOYEES

The easiest way to boost employee morale is to make them feel seen and appreciated. Recognize the hard work of your employees, go out of your way to give them a shout-out, just ensure it is a meaningful and sincere compliment. Do not allow the structure of remote work to prevent you from celebrating birthdays, anniversaries in the company, and milestones; these are important, and your team will appreciate you remembering. Take the time to reach out to an employee to congratulate them on their achievements, any direct client feedback, and if appropriate, do it publicly; it will only take a minute of your meeting, but it will mean a lot to your staff. Similarly, you could encourage your team to celebrate one another, and they may have greater insight into who is really shining.

3. CREATE A WELLNESS CULTURE

Work on improving your company’s working culture. We often face an almost toxic productivity culture, and finding a work/life balance is difficult enough without throwing remote work into the mix too. Remind your staff about the importance of taking their breaks and working only during work hours; that email can wait until tomorrow. If you would like to take it further, why not suggest a wellness-themed activity? We offer virtual wellness classes, including meditation and virtual yoga, that can help your employees unwind and practice mindfulness, always guided by an experienced teacher. This can help promote a culture of wellness in your company.

4. HELP YOUR TEAM CONNECT

One of the most unfortunate aspects of remote working is the lack of connection and interaction. You can tackle this by providing an opportunity for your staff to come together and converse. This may be through a platform like Slack or even a weekly check-in session over video-call. This can be a chance for your team to share both personal and professional news, discuss new and exciting projects, or even brag about a new skill they have acquired.

5. FUN ACTIVITIES TO BOOST MORALE

Another way to improve employee morale is to provide your team with a new experience, something fun and unexpected that may help with the challenges of remote working. Here at KraftyLab, we offer a wide range of online team bonding activities for your team to enjoy, ranging from a virtual coffee tasting or a virtual mixology class to a relaxing craft activity like candle-making. This will allow your team to not only bond over doing something creative and new together, but maybe learn a new skill or find a new hobby.

Finally, I encourage you to listen to your team and how your employees feel. Ask your employees what it is that they need. Is it guidance and support? Is it clear goals and tasks? Is it an opportunity to connect and share? Is it improving your company culture? Take their feedback on board and decide what it is that will best meet the needs of your employees. When you figure it out, make it a constant priority by choosing to engage in day to day practices and habits that will create a constructive working environment, increase employee happiness and keep your employees engaged.

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