Happy endings are not guaranteed in business. News proves that daily. Many companies are facing uncertain times, and workers can tell you how that affects morale, and eventually, results.
March is Employee Spirit Month, a time to inspire the most vital asset of any organization: its employees. It's more important than ever in these hard economic times to boost employee morale and spirit.
Supervisors and managers should do everything in their power to try to improve employee morale and spirit. But it really starts with the individual. Each of us should make sure that our attitudes are positive. Attitudes often are often as important as aptitudes.
Our performance depends on our attitude. When people are not happy doing what they do, they don't do it as well. On the other hand, employee performance is unlimited when they truly like what they are doing and feel appreciated.
We all meet people who complain about everything. Don't let them get to you. Their behavior should never dictate your actions. Attitudes can be caught and taught. Remain positive. Looking on the bright side never causes eyestrain. It may not be your fault for being down, but it definitely is your fault for not getting up.
Harvard psychologist William James said: "The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind."
My feeling is that this can extend to companies. A positive company culture should start at the top. It's always best for management to be honest with its workforce. And it makes sense to solicit workers' input. Including employees in problem-solving helps promote cooperation, which leads to better spirit. Why wouldn't a manager listen to the people who have such a vested interest in fixing things?
Author Glenn Van Ekeren tells of two young women working in a community hospital who decided to quit. They were tired of dealing with ungrateful, complaining patients, backbiting between employees and an apathetic administration. Just before quitting, though, these two women decided to try an experiment. They resolved, just for the fun of it, to bend over backwards for everyone they encountered on their last day of work.
