Today's challenging business environment continues to impact many industries, with restructurings and layoffs creating concern among employees. When profits are threatened, companies often view layoffs as a direct way to reduce costs. Managers are also likely to become more directive, communicating decisions rather than involving their teams in decision-making processes.
Rarely does a company allocate sufficient budget to deal with employee morale issues. Yet there are tangible, cost-effective steps for organizations to take in moving employees away from feeling like victims or suffering “survivor syndrome.” These steps help employees feel more in control of their environment, so they are better able to understand why things have changed and how they can positively impact outcomes.
The following three-stage approach will keep an organization on track, improve morale and promote productivity following workplace change. The steps help move employees up from the bottom of the change curve, where they feel disappointment and anger to feeling optimistic and happy. The important principle here is to maintain momentum, moving quickly to create a sense of urgency and progress.
The three-stage approach to lift employee morale
STAGE ONE - Listen: Get feedback and ideas.
STAGE TWO - Communicate: with solutions to business issues and employee concerns.
STAGE THREE - Recognize: business and employee accomplishments and successes.
https://www.melcrum.com/research/change-crisis-communication/three-stage-strategy-improving-employee-morale