Small Business Morale in a Time of Uncertainty

Small businesses can suffer many hardships; from legal action, to lay-offs, to bankruptcy. Keeping up morale is an important responsibility of the company owner. Motivating workers when the company is in turmoil may be a sensitive matter. Going about it in a specific way will help you to generate a positive outcome.

Never ignore employee complaints. Acknowledge them in a respectful manner. In fact, you should encourage employees to bring complaints directly to you to avoid affecting the morale of the other workers. Sometimes employees simply need to vent or find someone who will just listen. Make sure that there is a definite system in place for making complaints. You may need to put an anonymous complaint box or survey all employees anonymously to get the raw truth.

Avoid phrases like, “Well what do you expect me to do?” Work on coming up with solutions that work for the employees and the company. Communication is key. Help employees strip down complaints and write down the facts. When emotions are involved, it can be hard to determine the root of the problem and effectively take control. Being able to fairly handle situations personally will save you money and boost confidence among your employees.

If your business is wading in questionable waters, you will start to notice that employees are fearful, stressed, and feel more vulnerable. Keep them involved with the company to boost morale. If you don’t have money to give them, give them new responsibilities. Training, tuition reimbursement, or creating teams to work together can help employees focus on something new.

Instead of having a big holiday party or a pot-luck lunch to boost morale, give employees time to take care of their families. Most people would rather go home than spend time at work doing nothing. With almost all parents working full-time, it can be very stressful to feel trapped at work. Granting them time with their families will definitely put you on their good side! It shows that you understand what they sacrifice to work for you, and they’ll appreciate that.

Treat employees with respect. Get interested in their personal lives enough to relate when they are having a difficult time. Be patient and understanding about hardships. Never yell or put down an employee. All employees that find out about it will lose respect for you and your company. Making sure that you are giving each employee recognition and attention may take time and effort, but it will be worth it.

If your company is in trouble, let your employees be involved in how you are going to secure their jobs. Let them know when you decide to save money by turning down the thermostat at night, or by bringing in the coffee supplies yourself instead of having them delivered. If you can’t afford big lavish parties and bonus checks, then find other ways to cut costs and make employees happy. Find services that help small businesses save money. For example, mobile concierge services can be used in the place of phone directory or directory assistance, and can just about replace a personal assistance.

Saving money, having open communication with employees, and treating everyone with respect will earn you a happy and productive workforce.

About the Author: Joe Smith is a Marketing Associate of OnCall, a leading online source of mobile concierge services that goes above and beyond traditional directory assistance. Get international personalized assistance with phone direcory information, turn by turn directions, movie times, stock quotes, sports scores, and more at http://www.askoncall.com.