Professionals at all levels are vulnerable to low morale sometimes – especially if their team is going through a period of transition. Maybe a well-liked boss has decided to resign. Or maybe there’s an assignment to a new office or a change in job responsibilities. As a result, employees might start falling short of their quotas, lose their motivation or just seem to be missing their spark.

Megan Moran, a manager of HR services for Insperity, urges leaders to look for morale issues early on so they can address them before they escalate. In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we highlight Moran’s four-step outline for proactively preventing low morale at work.

  1. Rely on your company’s North Star. According to Moran, your promo company’s North Star includes your mission, vision, values and culture. All of these factors combine to create your company’s identity. They are the constants that guide your staff members and keep you on course. Having a clear mission and vision is the single biggest differentiator between companies that struggle with low morale and those that don’t. During times of crisis or change, lean on your company’s mission, vision, values and culture to remind employees why they’re there and what’s important.
  2. Prioritize your employees. Keeping your people engaged and happy should be your top priority, Moran says, because there is a direct correlation between the success of your business and your employees. If you suspect someone might be struggling, check in with them and see how you can provide support or resources. This action goes a long way at building trust and preventing low morale from festering.
  3. Communicate intentionally. Any time you announce big workplace changes, Moran recommends communicating in person rather than emailing or meeting virtually. This allows you to better convey your intended tone. You can also gauge employees’ reactions and answer questions in real time. She recommends weaving your company’s mission, vision, values and culture into the discussion.
  4. Periodically check in with surveys. You can also guard against low morale by checking in with employees regularly. Don’t wait until morale is at an all-time low, Moran says. Instead, send out a survey at regular intervals so you get a more realistic picture of your employees’ day-to-day experiences.

Whether or not your promo business is going through some changes, it’s a good practice to stay mindful about your team’s morale. When you follow the steps above, you just might be able to prevent low morale from taking root in the first place.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Megan Moran is a manager of HR services for Insperity. She often speaks on human resources best practices.