If you are looking to have a successful school year, let’s start by talking about Staff Morale Booster ideas. Building a positive workplace environment has to start with establishing a place where employees feel safe, valued, and happy. There are many studies out there that prove if there is a positive workplace that productivity increases. And let’s be honest…who doesn’t want to work in a place where people are genuinely happy to come to work each and every day?!
So where do we start?
…RIGHT HERE! These 9 Staff Morale Booster Ideas will give you the ideas and action steps it takes to make your staff feel valued, loved, and appreciated.
We all know that being an educator is hard work. For most teachers, it’s the little things that keep them going. A little encouragement, appreciation, and thoughtfulness can go a long way. Staff morale doesn’t happen overnight and it really does take a team to make it happen. So whether you are an administrator, parent, counselor, or teacher these 9 Staff Morale Boosters are guaranteed to work.
Support Work/Life Balance
Teacher burnout is very real. It’s critical in the world of education for staff to have a work/life balance. Often we hear that there is too much on a teacher’s plate and never enough time. When you are considering new initiatives, expectations, and more try to put yourself in a teacher’s shoes. Is what you are asking going to add too much to their plate? If the answer is year, I would caution you to reconsider. I fully believe that teachers need to show up each day and be their best for their students in the classroom, but what does that really take? What does that look like? Is it two weeks worth of lesson plans? Is it room transformations? I know by nature teachers always go above and beyond for the students in their room but it’s important that they are afforded the opportunity to take time for themselves outside of school. You can also help by giving them the gift of time so they are able to spend time outside of their classroom for themselves. This can be done by:
- Covering a duty (recess, before school, after school, etc.)
- Protecting plan time
- Canceling meetings that can be covered in an email
Create a Welcoming Environment
Take a little bit of time to make sure that the school is inviting to both staff and students. Are the entry ways inviting? Is the lounge a comfortable place? Is there visible dust or trash? Ensuring that staff have a place to go on their breaks that is a comfortable place can make a huge impact on their mood throughout the day. You may also want to decorate the bathroom mirrors with these [FREE] motivational bubbles!
Open Communication
Make teachers feel heard. Make them feel valued and let them know their opinion matters. Are there problems arising in the school? Create time or a committee of staff members to tackle the problem. Shared leadership over school policies and issues can bridge the gap between administration and the day-to-day classroom happenings, leading to more of a cohesive culture. Allow for teachers to share how they are truly feeling on topics and keep the focus solution-oriented. When open communication is created and maintained it leads to less stress and teachers feeling like what they have to say matters.
Transparency
Along with open communication, it’s important that you remain transparent with staff. I’m not talking about spilling your guts with all of your personal problems or anything like that. But, are there things you’re not sure how to tackle? Let your staff know and ask for their help (obviously when appropriate). One of the most admirable things that can happen is admitting that you don’t know but you’re willing to do what it takes to solve the problems. Being honest and transparent allows for staff to see that you’re willing to come out from behind yourself.
Genuine Conversations
How often do you speak to the other staff members in your building? Are there only a select few? These are really great questions to ask yourself when considering building staff morale. We stress the importance of teachers building relationships with students and it’s equally important that leadership builds relationships with their staff. One thing that can be helpful is keeping a small notebook to write down things you’ve learned about other staff members. If I know that a staff member has a big event coming up (wedding, new grandchild, etc.) I make sure that I write that information down and set a reminder in my calendar to intentionally ask about what is happening in their life. Taking 5-10 minutes a day doing this can make the world of difference with your staff!
Celebrations
Everyone likes to be recognized every now and then. Celebrating others does not need to be a grand gesture. It can be a simple hand written note (that’s a FREEBIE by the way!), staff awards, or a kind comment. Make sure to let people know that you recognize their hard work, appreciate what they are doing, and are thankful they are a part of the staff.
Intentional Team Building
Do you have staff meetings or professional development coming up? Make sure you are creating time within your agenda to have staff get to know each other. You can do this by trying:
- Scavenger hunts
- Personality tests
- Get-to-know you activities
- Break out rooms
- BINGO
And so much more! You can find a few get-to-know you activities in my Back to School | Staff Morale Booster.
Luncheons
Luncheons are a HUGE hit amongst staff. It takes a little bit of time to organize but it’s worth it! If there is one day a month where staff don’t have to pack lunch, they will be happy campers. It also creates a time where teachers can take their mind off work (even just for a few minutes) and socialize with their peers. If you are interested in holding your own staff luncheons you can find more ideas HERE.
Element of surprise
This one is pretty simple and who doesn’t love a good surprise!? You can take several of these tips and surprise your staff with them! Surprising staff with a thoughtful gesture, free lunch, or the gift of time can really help boost morale in the building. It shows staff that you are willing to go the extra mile for them. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly idea, reach out to local businesses or parents to see if they are able to donate items or time.
