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When it comes to boosting productivity by building employee morale, most experienced managers are familiar with the basics. Obviously, you’ll need to provide employees with a fair wage and safe working conditions if you expect them to stick around and commit themselves to your enterprise. And genuine verbal and written “thank yous” are always welcome and are usually remembered for a long time (sometimes longer than managers even realize). But beyond these basics, there a few simple moves that can have a disproportionate impact on employee engagement, small gestures that the most forward-thinking companies are only recently beginning to recognize. Consider working these tips into your management approach.

1. Let your employees take naps. It may cost almost nothing to convert an old storage room or unused office into a nap room. Bring in a soft couch or two and witness rapid improvements in employee mood and morale, especially among those who work long hours. Sleep is essential for optimal brain function, and if you give employees ten or fifteen minutes a day to close their eyes, you’ll reap countless benefits in return.

2. Feed them. Bringing in a box of donuts to place on the table during an early meeting isn’t about helping employees fuel up for the day. It’s about showing appreciation. Food is a symbol and a gift that doesn’t cost much and can have a positive impact on morale.

3. Chat with them. And remember the things they say. Simply inquiring about the health of an employee’s flu-ridden child can strengthen the foundations of trust and open communication. Spend at least five minutes a day chatting with each of your employees about non-work related topics.

4. Stay in constant contact. This may mean a five minute meeting each morning just to check in and make sure everyone is one the same page. Start the day with brief huddle and a quick reminder about why you’re all doing whatever it is that you do.

5. Stand up for them, back them up during conflicts with customers, and take a few hits for the team. If there’s a task that your employees all dread, like dealing with a famously difficult client, preparing a boring monthly report, or cleaning the kitchen grease traps, step up and take on this task every now and then. Your employees will love this, they’ll respect you for it, and they won’t forget it.

6. Recognize who they are and what they’re working for. If you know each of your employees well, then you understand something about their personal goals and professional ambitions. Keep these things in mind when you find yourself looking for ways to motivate a specific employee to take on a specific challenge.

For more tips on building a motivation strategy that works for your business model and your company culture, contact the Texas staffing pros at Expert.

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