Morale vs Productivity
Employee morale has a direct impact on employee engagement, which
is directly related to their level of productivity. A Gallup report
found that disconnected employees cost US companies up to $550
billion in productivity losses annually.
By understanding the relationship between employee morale and
productivity, and knowing how to properly measure work ethic, you can
better influence your team’s attitude and overall engagement and
increase your productivity.
How employee morale and productivity are intertwined
Morality refers to the mental and emotional state of a person. It
can also refer to a belief in an individual or group’s purpose and
future results.
When we talk about work ethic, we mean what your team members think
about the company, their job and their place in the company.
Several research studies were conducted across different locations,
industries and demographics to determine whether there was a
relationship between employee morale and productivity. Several
studies suggest that work ethic can be directly related to
productivity.
The results also show that employee engagement has a direct impact
on productivity and that work ethic is an important factor in
employee engagement. Many factors that affect engagement, such as
employee empowerment, relationships with other employees and
managers, and the provision of rewards and recognition also impact
work ethics.
This link between work ethic and engagement means that increased
work ethic can directly and indirectly increase productivity.
how to measure work ethic
Understanding the relationship between employee morale and
productivity is the first step to improving employee and team
performance. The next step is to figure out how to measure employee
morale so that you can understand the current state of your team and
track changes in morale over time.
Employee surveys are one of the best ways to measure work ethic.
For best results, take surveys anonymously, fill out them regularly,
and ask very specific questions that employees can answer by choosing
a score from 1 to 5 or 1 to 10.
Here are some examples of survey questions:
Are you happy and satisfied with your current job?
Do you think your hard work and dedication will be recognized?
Do you think there is room for growth in your work?
What are the chances that he will stay with the company?
Another way to measure employee morale is through regular
face-to-face interviews. You can also judge morale by tracking
symptoms such as:
change in productivity
Change in the rate of delay or absenteeism.
fluctuating rate growth
What are the causes of low employee morale?
If you find that employee morale is low or appears to be falling,
it is important to know why. If a particular problem is morally
destructive, then any solution that does not fix that problem is
unlikely to help.
how to improve work ethic
Eliminating direct causes of low morale should help improve
employee satisfaction and happiness at work. Here are some
additional steps you can take to increase employee morale and
productivity:
Touch the base regularly. Showing that you care about your
employee’s state of mind can enhance the work ethic. Regular
face-to-face meetings can not only help you assess work ethic, but
can also make your employees feel that you care about their
well-being and development.
Be transparent. According to reports, 70% of employees are more
engaged when top management constantly updates and communicates
corporate strategy. Using goals and key results (OKRs) can help your
team get the bigger picture and see how your work fits into it.
Celebrating small and big successes helps your team feel recognized
and valued for their hard work. Organizing non-professional events
such as birthdays can also help build engagement with the team and
make employees happy.
Emphasize work-life balance. Shorter working hours can make
employees happier and more relaxed. It can also increase your
productivity.
Involve your team in decisions. When employees do not feel
involved in the decision-making process, they feel undervalued and
powerless.
Reward employees. Teams and individuals should be rewarded for
their hard work and dedication. Whether the reward is public
recognition for a job well done or a gift card to your favorite
restaurant, regular rewards help enhance work ethic.
Encourage comments. Asking for honest feedback, giving positive
feedback, and solving problems will make your team happy and believe
you’re on their side and want to help them succeed.
Promote team cohesion. Scheduling team events outside of work
hours can help develop a sense of belonging and unity, which in turn
can boost morale. Even remote teams can use tools like Zoom to
participate in virtual team building activities.
Entrepreneurs often face a dilemma. If they are too careless with
employees, morale can rise, but productivity drops. On the other
hand, when bosses become too obsessed with maximizing productivity,
work ethic suffers, resulting in lower job satisfaction and higher
employee turnover. The solution is to find ways to balance your
business goals and the needs of your employees.
Reduce stress
Your goal is to create a positive work environment that fosters
both a work ethic and high productivity. The first step is to
identify the factors that are putting employees under undue pressure
or making them feel upset or humiliated. High levels of stress lead
to low morale and productivity, both of which can add significant
costs to your business.
Make expectations clear
The next step is to clarify your expectations so that your
employees know what you expect of them. If a certain level of
productivity is tolerated on one day but criticized the next,
employees become anxious and bitter and do not know what to do on a
particular day. Consistent expectations, on the other hand, allow
workers to predict the consequences of their behavior, thereby
improving work ethic.
Rewards and Motivation
Establishing a reward system tied to job performance can help
balance your employees’ motivation with yours. For example, if a
large customer places an order early, awarding for exceeding
production quotas can help meet an urgent need without sacrificing
employee morale. The chance to earn extra money can also boost the
morale of your employees.
Career development
Developing the skills of your employees has two positive effects.
First, it improves productivity because a highly skilled workforce
can take on more responsibility and produce more. Second, training
your employees improves their career prospects, their work ethic and
gives them a sense of accomplishment. While developing a training
program or promoting education may seem like a financial burden, it
can also be a financial blessing if it results in happier, more
productive employees.
Remove obstacles
Take measures to remove performance bottlenecks and enable you to
work efficiently. For example, a failing team can hinder the
productivity of your employees. These issues can be a source of
frustration for workers as they are responsible for low productivity
when they have little to do with it. Address these issues by asking
employees to notify you of any problems. Ask them for suggestions
for improvement. Morale will improve if your employees feel that you
are ready to help them do their best.
Respectfully
Vasile,