Data from Business2Community shows that companies with excellent employee engagement register a 202% higher performance than those with poor employee engagement. Another survey from Aberdeen reveals that organizations with engaged employees record a 233% higher customer loyalty along with a 26% annual revenue increase. These statistics reveal the amount of influence workplace morale can have on the capacity of a business to accomplish its goals. Read on to learn the five reliable ways that can help small businesses enhance employee morale.

1.     Communicate Regularly and Clearly

Communicating regularly is one of the easiest ways to enhance employee morale. Interact with your team members regularly. Ask them how they’re feeling, the challenges they’re facing, and how you can assist. If there’s a looming adjustment to business operations or new programs on the brink of being launched, ensure your employees know about it in advance. Don’t just surprise them with big decisions that affect them. Instead, engage them in discussions that affect them and make them feel that their viewpoints matter.

2.     Give Your Employees a Reason to Believe

Your workers are part of something greater than themselves, but are they aware of it?  You must ensure your employees understand and share in your business’s vision and overall goals right from the hiring stage. This knowledge will give them a sense of belonging and a reason to give their best in everything they do. Powerful and motivating visions account for a huge share of growth and success of many prominent companies like Microsoft, Google, and Apple. So, small businesses that want to see immense growth must have a clearly defined vision in place.

3.     Recognise and Reward the Achievements of Each Staff Member

Everyone craves for recognition, especially when they’ve accomplished something. If your staff members aren’t recognized often and possibly rewarded for their accomplishments in your business, they feel sad and directionless. They may feel as if they aren’t valuable members of your company. To avoid this, ensure you recognize and reward every employee for their achievements – whether big or small. It could be a celebratory meal or a get-together where every employee reflects on their achievements. It could also be an incentive initiative such as “Employee of the Month.” Such programs can go a long way towards raising team spirits and pushing team members to work harder.

4.     Encourage Work-Life Balance

Data from Flexjobs shows that 82 percent of employees would stay with their current employers if they’re offered flexible work options. So if your staff members appear disengaged or discouraged, offering flexibility is one of the fastest and most reliable ways to raise their spirits and boost productivity. Employers who encourage their workers to strike a balance between work and life usually retain great talents and build a healthier and more productive workplace. As a business leader, you should serve as an example by modeling an effective work-life balance. You can make email usage past work hours as minimal as possible and take breaks to refocus. You can even spend a part of your week working from a good coworking space, provided by Upsuite, particularly if you live and run your business in that part of the world.

5.     Encourage Your Employees to Take Real Lunch Breaks

A big number of employees spend the entire day on their desks, without taking a break. In fact, 60% of workers eat lunch alone at their workspace while working. This is an issue that you should address as a leader. To combat that, invest in some kitchen remodelling and create a space where they can interact and network with each other. Otherwise, you’ll see a dramatic drop in employee morale and engagement. Encourage your staff to take a coffee or lunch break or just step away from their desks for at least ten minutes after every two hours of working.

Every small business can reap tons of benefits from an increase in employee morale. If you’re looking for ways to improve employee morale and build a better culture, you can start with the five aforementioned tips.