10 Employee Morale Boosters

Everyone needs a “pick me up” sometimes. With the economic climate being what it is at the present time, it’s more important than ever to integrate happiness into the culture of your work place and personal life. For many companies, money is tight so my suggestions are affordable and, in some cases, free. So no chartering a plane for a weekend in Vegas or going to Super Bowl (although I do suggest attending a sporting event.) The primary reason I’m writing this post is to emphasize the idea that your employees and/or co-workers are a family. You may not always agree with each other, but even in cutthroat industries, your fates are indelibly intertwined; trust me on this one. Positive morale is vital to company success, so try these suggestions. I think you’ll like the results.



1.Have a company lunch or breakfast- It doesn’t have to be elaborate, but free bagels and coffee or box lunches or pizzas can go a long way in helping employees feel like they are more than just droids pushing out a product. This act works on two levels; it’s an act that shows genuine concern for employees. Also, we all have to eat, picking up the tab on breakfast or lunch saves your employees time. It also gives employees a chance to slow down and bond, if everyone sits together to eat.

2.After work happy hour or ice cream social- I know this may sound like a pricey idea but if you buy beer and wine the costs can be reduced. If you are concerned that your happy hour could become an unwanted dose of truth serum for some or if consuming alcohol is not in keeping with your corporate culture, an ice cream social works just as well. The point is to give employees an opportunity to unwind and learn a bit more about each other. It also gives them something to look forward to at the end of the day, which is always nice.

3.March Madness office pool- We don’t condone gambling in any venue, but employees who love basketball will get a big kick out of picking the winners in the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament. Having bragging rights in the office will be a more prized accomplishment than you can possibly imagine.

4.Ugly Sweater Contest- This is a silly take on casual Friday where employees don their ugliest sweaters. Some employees may think that they are too cool or distinguished to participate in this activity, but part of boosting employee morale is having a willingness to take yourself less seriously. A great way to encourage people to do this is for the employer to lead the charge.

5.Volunteer Project- Nothing feels better than helping others with no expectation of getting something in return. It also helps our world at a global and community level. If you could only participate in one of the activities that I’ve listed in this article, I strongly urge you to participate in this one.

6.Goal Planning- If you can only do two of the activities I’ve listed in this article, aside from volunteering, I strongly encourage the idea of working with employees to set company and individual goals. I can’t express to you the importance of making employees a part of goal setting for the coming year. It gives them ownership in the progress of the company and it makes them feel important. People would argue that workers are mostly motivated by money, but I would say that many if not all are motivated by a sense of importance.

7.Have employees make a short video about their lives or a safety video- This may require a little buy-in, but if you get it, it can pay big dividends. The video doesn’t have to be long (2-4 minutes would be fine.) The idea is to give your co-workers a little insight into each other’s lives, thus building connections. If this idea sounds a little personal, try getting everyone to create a funny video about office safety. Then take time on a Friday to show the videos and learn more about your co-workers or have a hearty laugh. By the way, these videos are meant to be a fun diversion, not an additional project or a political statement, so set ground rules early.

8.Bring in a masseuse to give 10-minute massages- This may also seem like a pricey suggestion but that’s why we have massage therapy schools. There are tons of would-be massage therapists who are looking to hone their craft for little to no cost. Benefits of this activity are obvious.

9.Walk in a co-worker’s shoes for a day- Nothing gives employees more of a feel for their teammates (and that’s what you really are or at least should be) or gives them a better understanding of their company than doing someone’s job for a day. This is not meant to be punishment, just an exercise in understanding those around you. This activity will build bonds between employees and make them better professionals within their industry.

10.Make note of one accomplishment each day- This can be an individual or company-wide activity. The point is to see progress each day. One of the best ways to give yourself a daily boost is to understand that your making strives, even small ones towards an end goal. No one wants to feel that they have wasted their time and this activity will help them feel a little more useful.

10 Marketing and Business Tips to Start 2010 Right by Johnny Crosskey

Once the confetti of New Year’s Eve has been cleaned up and we’ve taken all our annual leave, it becomes time to get to work- to shed the issues of 2009’s disastrous economic climate and to develop methods for ensuring that 2010 will have more positive results. Below are ten things to consider when taking that next step. These aren’t resolutions as much as they are action items. As we have all heard before, the definition of insanity is doing the same things while expecting different results. If we want 2010 to be different than 2009, we have to be different.

1) Create a plan that begins with the end- We want business to be better. We want to make more money. We want to have more customers. We know that a plan is an essential part of goal achievement, but I want to take it one step further in examining the environment that surrounds your company when you enter 2011. Think about where you want your company to be, what you want your company to be doing, think about what will result from having more customers, revenues, etc. and work backwards to your current situation. Build your plan from there. I would also encourage you to include employees in planning 2010 since they are the ones that will carry out this vision. They can give great insight on ground-level constraints and will take ownership in your plan if they helped develop it.

2) Clear out last year’s clutter- Not only do you need to physically clear out any stuff from the previous year, but mentally you must get passed the fact that 2009 was less than stellar. Just like in baseball, it’s a new season; we all have a chance to win.

3) Brainstorm five people who can help you reach your goals in 2010- Determine five people, whether its journalists, prospects, influencers or whoever that can help you reach your goals. Then strategize methods for getting in front of them. Then do it!

4) Take a stand on social media- My opinion is that all companies should have a voice in all places where they could possibly be discussed. However, to this point, B2C companies, non-profits and events have had greater success using social media as a marketing tool than B2B companies. That doesn’t mean that B2B’s can’t find their niche in social media, they just have to work harder. And that’s my point, if you don’t feel that social media is working for your company, stop doing it. If you want to make it work, put in the extra time and resources. Whatever you do, don’t make a poor, uninspired effort in this arena because it will look worse than making no effort at all.

5) Become a Subject Matter Expert- Take the time to learn the ins and outs of your field. This will not only help you to provide a better product but will create much more credibility when in front of the customers, especially if your knowledge can be displayed via the media. Also learn as much as you can about the customer’s experience with your products and the competition. The knowledge can be invaluable in all facets of your business.

6) Dedicate yourself to customer marketing- While many companies can cut their prices, few can enhance their quality. Make sure that the experience that customers have with your products is unsurpassed and empower then to tell others. If customers see the experience with your company as a “must have” they will find a way to afford it and will recommend it. Find ways to encourage them to recommend your products more often. The customer is always the most powerful endorser of your products.

7) Investigate how new technologies can help your company- If a new technology can streamline work processes, help you communicate better or simply make someone’s job easier, it’s a worthy investment. The time you save down the line because of technology investments can save money in the years to come.

8) Always extenuate the positive- Times are tough, we all know this. However, if you are reading this you’re blessed. When people talk about past recessions that they’ve been through, listen to them. Take comfort in knowing that tough times are temporary. Make sure this message permeates your entire company. It may not sound like much, but a positive, confident attitude will be projected to prospects and will give you a much better shot at turning them into customers.

9) Stay the course- Don’t get desperate and change your business model, plan or the way you do business. In football, a smart coach makes adjustments at halftime, but they always believe in their offensive and defensive philosophies as well as the players who carry them out.

10) Be Courageous- Deep down we all know that the most successful people in the world had to make a bold move from time to time. To turn the tide from last year, you may have to do the same. While your core philosophy should remain, it’s important to continuously keep your eyes open for new opportunities and ways to enhance your business processes. Beyond that, being courageous means taking charge of your economic recovery. Creating plans, seeking out people who can help your company, utilizing social media, being creative, and essentially doing all the things that made you successful in the first place. In a phrase, “play to win!”