By Joe Haddad

Successful companies realize that in order to create a moreproductive, stable and profitable workplace, employees need to feel engaged and empowered. Managers who successfully link a staff member’s aspirations with the company’s drive see performance and productivity take off.

Current research reveals that companies with high employeemorale are:

• 56 percent more likely to have higher-than-average customer loyalty.
• 50 percent more likely to have lower turnover.
• 38 percent more likely to have above-average productivity.
• 27 percent more likely to report higher profitability.

To boost morale in the workplace, a good place to start iswith communication, from top management down to front line employees.

Awards work

The powerful effect of awards and incentives reaches farbeyond “warm fuzzies” – it impacts the success ofyour organization. The influence of award programs has been researched andproven:

• On average, employee incentive programs improve performance by 22 percent.
• A rewards program can boost the bottom line of a $1 billion company by $ 40 million.
• Sales contest with promotional product rewards outperformed non-stimulated contests as much as 50 percent.

How do you make an incentive program cost-effective? Youshould know that it can take up to six times as much cash to have the sameeffect as non-cash incentives. By giving employees items they use regularly orsee on a daily basis, it reinforces positive feelings toward the company beyondwhen the award is initially presented. Tangible items are also more likely to be shown to co-workers, family and friends than a bonus check or cash. This again, helps increase employee satisfaction and pride in the company. Special award certificates, posters with staff photos or other graphics, stationery and business cards are a few ideas. Other incentive items include promotional products imprinted with a company logo or message such as coffee mugs and pens,as well as other desk accessories.

Signs of Encouragement

Signs of encouragement in the workplace should be visible to coworkers – and plentiful. When one of your team members does a good job, theydeserve to be told, “Good job.” And when they achieve a certain milestone, that should be recognized as well. So in the spirit of raising spirits, here is a short start to a long list of deserving occasions:

• Best attendance record for month, quarter, year
• Happy birthday or anniversary
• Best “suggestion of the week”
• Biggest “sale of the month”
• Going the extra mile award
• Team player award
• Create your own unique recognition

For more information on how to use print communications toboost morale in the workplace, contact your print professional. Then your boss may applaud you for a job well done.

If more people took advantage of the power of visualmessages in the workplace, there would be greater focus and fewer misunderstandings. Management consultants have long recognized that visual reminders can strengthen worker loyalty, increase efficiency and reduce errors.     

“An important element of effective leadership is communication,” said Lynda Ronie of The LeadershipGroup, a Michigan-based leadership development and consulting firm. “Visual messages at the work site are a powerful way to reconnect management and employees with the ideals and goals of the company.”