So if I read all the management literature correctly, then to improve employee morale, I should hire a concierge, allow people to bring their pets to work, and every day at 3.00pm we should join hands in a circle and sing campfire songs. Personally, I can’t think of anything that would make me start looking for alternative employment faster.
So what does impact morale, and should managers care?
First of all, they should care – just not about concierges and employee sing-alongs. Morale is a key driver of attendance and retention both of which have a clear and immediate impact on costs. Morale also creates and maintains employee discretionary effort — which has a clear and immediate impact on productivity, quality and safety. Besides all of that, it’s just way more fun to work at a place where people are engaged.
There are several ways for leaders to impact morale. Perhaps one of the most important is a consistent, fair, and well thought out progressive discipline process. Yep, that’s right… I’m suggesting that progressive discipline and higher employee morale are highly correlated. Here’s why:
When one member of a team consistently doesn’t pull his weight, it is rarely the boss that feels the impact of this. Most often it is that laggard’s peers. By addressing one person’s poor performance, others are both relieved and validated. They are relieved that the discipline will either lead to the person beginning to pull their weight, or that the person will be replaced by someone who will. They are validated by the demonstration that their effort is superior to that of the person receiving the discipline.
The most highly effective workplaces have predictable and clear consequences for both good and poor performance, so it is not good enough for a leader simply to focus on discipline. However, many managers put off uncomfortable discussions about poor performance using the excuse that any intervention will harm morale. In fact, the opposite it true.
Oh No. Now you’ve got to go do it.
Go ahead… discipline someone for poor performance, and improve your team’s morale.