There are many obstacles in running a manufacturing business, and how you manage these will have a direct impact on your success. One obstacle that is particularly common in this industry is keeping morale high amongst employees.
The physically demanding work can take its toll on staff, so you need to find ways to keep your employees happy, motivated and focused to avoid high staff turnover. In addition to increasing productivity, boosting morale can also cultivate a positive working environment that everyone can enjoy and benefit from. Here are a few tips for keeping morale high in your manufacturing business.
- Encourage Open Communication Throughout the Business
Communication is important in business for many different reasons. Encouraging staff to openly communicate with one another can help increase morale and encourage team bonding, but it should never be at the expense of work. Additionally, adopting an open-door style policy that encourages staff to come to you with concerns or questions can eliminate the “us and them” feeling and make staff feel valued.
- Incentives
Using incentives is a smart business move, because it can keep staff happy and engaged while also increasing productivity. Setting team targets and providing rewards when they are achieved can be a powerful motivation tool. Rewards could include bonuses, early finishes, late starts or any other kind of incentive.
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Awards are another great way to reward stafff. Pictured is The Manufacturer MX Awards 2018 overall Winners, Accolade Wines. From left: Henry Anson and Nick Hussey from The Manufacturer, Richard Lloyd and Alison Beard-Gunte from Accolade Wines and Paul Brooks from event sponsor, Santander – image courtesy of The Manufacturer. Give Praise
People crave positive feedback, yet it is amazing how few managers give regular and honest positive feedback to their team. Giving praise and celebrating hard work and accomplishments can work wonders for morale and also incentivise staff to work hard and hit their targets. Additionally, it helps staff know that they are on the right track.
- Use Employee Engagement Software
One of the main reasons for low morale, especially in manufacturing, is that employees often feel like they do not have a voice or any impact on the business. Employee engagement software like that from Inpulse provides a voice for everyone in the company and allows them to air their views on everything from strategy to the employee experience. You can then use this information to make smart business decisions, which can also benefit the employee.
- Keep Employees Challenged
Another big reason that manufacturing businesses sometimes struggle with morale is that staff often become bored of their roles. Keeping employees challenged with new responsibilities and different tasks can keep them on their toes and help them develop new skills. It is helpful if you are also able to provide employees with the chance to progress their career within the company, as they may otherwise start to look elsewhere.
Keeping morale high is important for many different reasons, but it is also a huge challenge, particularly in the manufacturing industry. The above tips should help you boost morale, which should help the business to thrive, encourage staff loyalty and also create a positive environment in the workplace. This will make coming in each morning much more enjoyable for everyone in the company.
