Employee moral

[jennika]

As an assistant do you have any ideas how to bring up morale within a department.  Many times we are the liaisons between works and management and we have the unique power to affect a better office.  Any ideas how to?

[gee4]

Improving morale is about making people feel appreciated.  Is your boss not praising his staff for a job well done?  What's the reason behind it?

Does your company offer incentives?  Rewards?  Cash bonus?  It could be something your boss initiates in his own department even if it's not done throughout the company.  It could be done on a weekly or monthly basis eg. employee of the week/month.  Make it competitive.

I used to do this in a previous job where I made it a competition to see who could get their timesheets in first every week.  We agreed to name and shame anyone who came last.  It was a great incentive.  Every week I got asked, was mine first?

It can be something as simple as being friendly and interested in what your team are doing.  Do you have weekly team meetings?  We do.  In fact it's done throughout the company.  We learn what is going on in the business/department and it’s a chance to share what projects each of us are working on and what areas others can contribute or get involved.

It’s not always possible to create a pleasant working environment but if employees know they are safe and comfortable it goes a long way to improving morale.  Isolation on the other hand causes lack of motivation and therefore staff are less productive.

Does someone have a birthday soon?  Encourage the department to buy buns/cakes.  In previous companies I have worked if it was my birthday I brought in some goodies for the department to share.

Halloween and Christmas are just around the corner.  Is there anything you can do as a department to celebrate?  Are you having a Christmas lunch, dinner, night out?

These are only a few ideas but hopefully it will get you thinking.

[gee4]

One more thing, does everyone in your department know one another?  It can be difficult sometimes if there are new starts or if individuals have moved from another department.

Your boss really needs to be the one who brings the team together and it's vital for the business if they are going to be productive and get results.

We work very hard in my department, it can be non-stop, but we do have a laugh in between and I think that's a great motivator.

Good luck!

[Cathy S]

All the cultivation that Gee suggests is valuable and supports improved motivation within a team.

As assistant to the team leader, however,  there is another role you can play in improving motivation across the team.  The Team Leader ultimately sets out the work of the team, even if he/she has reports managing sub teams.  The Team Leader therefore must take an interest in people's work and achievements, and that does mean the team leader showing a personal interest and not sending "well done" via a third party!

Team meetings are great but do remember that not everyone will speak out about their achievements ... so as assistant you could keep awareness of things progressing and provide a nudge when there is something they should be aware of ... just as important  though is to learn who likes a fuss made of them and who prefers quiet acknowledgement.

Perhaps also important is to be aware of the hidden hierarchy within a team ... just because someone has the label "Boss" doesn't necessarily mean they are the leader.  If a Team Leader is seen as weak or not respected there is a vacancy for someone else to adopt the lead ... if that someone else is a demotivating personality the whole team will follow that lead.

[peaches2160]

I found when I first entered this role people perceived my boss as uncaring and not in touch with his staff.  I set out to change that by putting him in touch with his team.  His previous assistant had shielded him from the day to day.  However, I found that by keeping him the know about such things as it's so and so's birhtday, milestone anniversary with the company, birth of a child, serious illness in family, blocking time on the schedule to attend department functions, etc., it brought him in touch with his team and the employees around him.  I am not saying every little thing has to be shared, but a little note from the boss or him stopping by your office or cube to say hi and congratulate you on a milestone go a long way.