From the course: Administrative Professional Tips

Managing morale in your office

From the course: Administrative Professional Tips

Managing morale in your office

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- How is the morale in your office? Is everyone glad to work there? What is your contribution to the energy that exists in your work environment? I hope that you are one of the main reasons people love coming to work. As a seasoned administrative support professional, I have worked in a number of different offices over my 30 year career. One of my defining moments was when I was in a volatile work environment. However, instead of getting sucked into it, I realized it was my decision how I managed my morale and what I contributed. I had just as much influence as others in setting a tone for the office, and I chose to make it better, not worse. Morale in our offices is mainly seen as the attitudes, outlook, and satisfaction of the employees who work there. I have found that often times, whether morale is low or high is attributed to the leadership in that company. It is very easy to point fingers outward and upward when morale is low. However, I don't subscribe to that philosophy. I instead think it is the responsibility of everyone who works in that space to help keep the energy positive and promote a culture of optimism, regardless of the circumstances one finds oneself in. Although it is much easier to delegate that responsibility to someone else, it is definitely not productive to do so. Here are ways I increased morale in my work environment. The first area that is the most effective is my personal attitude. I try to ensure my words are not negative, my body language is welcoming, and I try to be a friendly smile for all that I come in contact with. I often ask people how they are doing, and actually take the time to listen to their answer. I maintain good eye contact, and take a genuine interest in their well-being. Next, I try to encourage informal lunches with those in immediate work group. These will either be potluck, where everyone brings in a dish to share, or we just get together, away from our desk, and eat our lunches as a group. We don't spend time discussing work, but rather talking about our interests, our families, and our plans for the upcoming weekend. It's a time for everyone to get to know one another better, and see each other in a different light. I learn so much about my coworkers when we do this. Lastly, I try to recognize fellow employees, and even those I provide administrative support when they do a good job. It's important that people's accomplishments are recognized, and that they are not taken for granted. I know this is something I personally appreciate, so I try to pass it on whenever possible. Office morale is something that doesn't need to be a problem, quite the contrary. We as administrative support professionals can be a driving force to ensure our office environments are productive, warm, and inviting for all.

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