The simplest way to improve morale

Say thank you.

Sounds simple enough, right?

In most businesses across the country, numbers are down and stress levels are skyrocketing. It’s an unfortunate combination that doesn’t do much for employee morale.

Right now, you may not have the money to take your team out for lunch or the company can’t contribute to a recognition program. It’s times like these when you’ll find that sometimes it’s the simplest signs of appreciation that can do an even better job than the fancy stuff.

Showing honest appreciation for the people on your team can do wonders for morale. Whether you stop by their desk to say thanks for their help on that last project or leave a funny greeting card on their desk expressing how much you appreciate all the hard work they put in, simple recognition can go a long way.

I recently came across a great post at Pamela Slim’s Escape From Cubicle Nation where Slim shared a personal story about a day that began with a not-so-pleasant experience at the airport.

She was dropped off almost two hours before her 6:30 a.m. flight, well before Starbucks opened their doors, and had to navigate through a blockade of airport construction. The caffeine-less Slim decided to sit down and write a blog post, but the only topics that came to mind included why mean people suck and sleep deprivation.

Then, almost magically, she received a tweet from a fan of her book: “@pamslim Pam, your book really is an achievement. It’s the best book I have read on the topic and the one I will be recommending widely.”

The message changed her mood right there on the spot. So much of a change that she started thinking of ways to show the same kindness as her tweeting fan.

Now I will look for opportunities throughout my trip to show the same kindness as Daniel, by doing things like:

• Saying thank you often and sincerely
• Complimenting someone on a job well done
• Encouraging to my clients and students
  

Kindness is not a little thing. It is not fluffy, unicorn and rainbow coachy stuff.

Kindness heals.

I highly recommend it.

The next time someone on your team looks like they’re having a difficult day, use it as an opportunity to share some words of encouragement and appreciation. In the same way it turned Slim’s day around, your words have the power to change their day for the better.

Friday Fun: Cool office gadgets and coworker gift ideas

Even while companies announce more canceled holiday parties and cut back around the office, there’s still no reason to stop spreading the holiday cheer.

One proven way to improve morale around the office - give a gift.

Whether you’re looking for something great to give your Secret Santa recipient or long-time coworker, there are a ton of cool gifts out there that they will be proud to show off on their desk all year round.

Check out these cool office gadgets and great coworker gift ideas:

• USB Coffee Warmer. Perfect for that coworker who can’t get enough of that warm, caffeine-filled goodness. Just plug the USB-powered warmer into your computer and they’ll have a nice warm cup of coffee all day long.
• USB Beverage Chiller. If it’s the colder caffeine-filled treats your coworker loves, try the USB Beverage Chiller. Works the same way the warmer does, but keeps your drinks nice and cold at your desk.
• Office carpet skates. This is the perfect gift for the Office Olympics organizer or office daredevil. The skates slip on right over your shoes and allow you to glide across carpeted surfaces. Watch this video on how it's done.
• Bright Blinds. No window in your cube? No problem. Bright Blinds are a great gift for that coworker who needs a little light in their life. Even if you’re located in the middle of a cube maze, this cool office gadget makes it look like there’s sunshine right on the other side of your cube wall.
• Water-Powered Clock. For the eco-friendly coworker always looking for new ways to be green in the office. This clock runs entirely on water, telling the time and date without any batteries at all.
• Staple-Free Stapler. Never run out of staples again with this cool little gadget. The Staple-free stapler makes a little cut at the edge and folds sheets together, making the process more neat and efficient.

When picking out that perfect something, watch out for these office gifts that could get you fired:

• Desktop Warfare Kit. Perfect for the model plane hobbyist in the office who hates to be disturbed at work. With these mini warfare devices, you can hurl paperclips at your coworkers all day long.
• Faceball. It’s like Dodgeball, but all about hitting people in the head. Not sure this one will last very long around the office, so have your fun while it lasts.
• Desktop Batting Practice. Perfect for the sports fan in the office. If you have a minute of free time at your desk, you have just enough time to practice your batting swing. Somehow, I don’t think your coworkers will enjoy the mini baseballs flying around all day.

Whatever you choose to give this year, whether it’s a cool gadget, greeting card or a simple “thank you,” be sure to show appreciation for your coworkers during the holidays and all year round. Happy Friday!

How to improve morale during the holidays

Maybe it’s because of the canceled company holiday party or low year-end sales numbers, but it seems like this holiday season is lacking the same excitement surrounding past years.

Even when the economy was doing great, the holidays always have a way of distracting us from the things we need to get done around the office. With everything going on in employees’ lives outside of work, it can be tough to find the motivation to tackle that to-do list by the time New Year’s rolls around.

Here are a few tips to motivate employees and boost morale during the holidays:

• Food. Throughout the year, especially during the holidays, food has magical way of bringing people together. Hold a bake sale, coordinate a luncheon or bring in a bag of bagels for your coworkers. It’s a quick way to lift everyone’s spirits without anyone having to spend a lot of money.


• Compliments. Encourage supervisors to hand out compliments to employees when they notice positive work or achievements. Compliments are also an immediate way to lift spirits and make employees feel confident in their work. And, they’re free. Simply saying “thank you” can do wonders for employee morale.


• Holiday cards. Business holiday cards are just a small way businesses can show their appreciation for all of the hard work employees have put in throughout the year. Take a few minutes to write a hand-written message on the inside of the card to add a personal touch.


• Fun. Find simple ways to improve morale at work every day. Hold contests, bring in pizza for lunch or make up a nonsense holiday, like “Funny Hat Day.” Decorate the office with winter decorations to brighten up the office and encourage teamwork. Keep it simple, just focus on getting everyone involved and having a great time.


• Humor. Hold an event that brings some laughter into the office. Organize an office-wide activity where supervisors hand out funny awards to employees. Not every employee views formal awards as fair, or feel left out. Funny awards get everyone laughing, whether they receive an award or not. You don’t have to spend a dime on this one either. Use supplies in the office to create awards that everyone will love. A word of caution - keep awards focused on what people did well, not on something they failed to do.

Don’t wait until January 2 to start improving employee morale around the office, get going now. With simple ideas and some creativity, a little bit of effort on your part can go a long way.

Office greeting cards: Lost for words?

We’ve all been there before - a manila folder containing a greeting card for a coworker lands on your desk and you’re struggling to find the best message to scribble in your 1 x 1 plot of card space.

There’s no need to struggle any longer. This week I ran across the Greetings Genie from Cube Farm, which promises to cure “writer’s block one office card at a time.”

The Genie helps you find the perfect response to almost any office greeting card. Just choose the occasion and tone of voice you’re looking for, and like magic you’ve got a list of sentiments to choose from.

Say it’s the boss’ birthday and you’re lost for a professional message to write, here’s what the Greetings Genie suggests:

• “To a great guy/gal - Cheers!”
• “Be sure to relax and enjoy the day.”
• “Enjoy your day! Well earned and well deserved!”

Other than providing the perfect message for corporate greeting cards, the Cube Farm has a great collection of funny office videos to watch when you have some downtime this Friday afternoon. Have fun and happy Friday!