Following are some low-cost/no-cost ways to up the morale during this down economy, thereby upping both productivity and the revenue. For remaining 22 fool-proof ideas along with 7 Mistakes Managers Make During a Downturn Economy, email info@leadershiptrust.org for the rest of the ways to rev up morale.

1. Get rid of  “subordinates” – call your employees Teammates instead.
2. TRANSPARENT, open and honest – how much? GIVING Bad news better than no news
3. Periodically hold a Q and A session with senior team members and invite everyone – decide meeting space based upon how many sign up to be there.
4. Consider Going Virtual on Fridays or whatever time frame your particular system can support.
5. Food always feels nurturing, so offer donuts or pastries or chips when there are gatherings.
6. Barter/trade when possible with vendors–clean trade/ zero funds
7. Tell those in customer service to say, “My pleasure” rather than “No problem.”
8. Good news notice board /compliments clients, photos having fun, newspaper clippings
9. Hiring – offer lower wage during probationary period. (Research Georgia Works Program)
10. Be on the lookout for articles with tips for specific departments and forward them on in order to position yourself as a strategic partner to the business.

Note. Be on the lookout for Part 2, which will address how HR team players can create buy-in once they have decided which of the 39 initiatives (of which 10 are presented here) they wish to introduce in their quest to make HR a strategic partner to the business.

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