Morale and Its Impact on Organizations and Individuals

The efficiency of an army unit is influenced by factors such as the ability of the commander, the capabilities of his men, their training and their armaments and equipment. Morale is an important factor too.                                                 

The following factors can bring about a high state of morale in an organization whether it is military or civilian:

• Good leadership- a good leader is one who is professionally competent and who leads by example. He brings confidence and positive mindset to the men with regard to the accomplishment of their task.    
• Concern for the well being of the men- when men see that their leaders are looking after their welfare, they will give their loyal and willing cooperation to them.        
• Communication- there must be constant dialogue between the leaders and the men they are handling. Through dialogue the leaders can tell the men what they want from them and what they want them to do. In return, the men will voice their problems, concerns and sentiments on certain issues. With the exchange of information the officers can then take appropriate actions.  
• Discipline- indiscipline of an individual is contagious if not dealt with immediately and appropriately. Breach of discipline among members adversely affects the morale of an organization. Disciplinary actions are meant to correct individual mistakes and improve the organization. Punishment should be fair and commensurate to the gravity of the offense that is committed.

It is proven that remuneration and other material things are not the sole motivation to raise the morale of individuals. The Philippine troops have had long running battles against communist insurgents. The communist guerillas also called the NPA have no salary and are poorly equipped, yet they are as motivated as government soldiers. And who can forget the ragtag Viet Cong guerillas which fought the American troops. They had less in training and material resources, yet their fighting spirit was unflinching. In recent times there are the suicide bombers who forfeit their lives by blowing themselves up to kill other people. Despite lack of material things that are availed to him, an individual can be highly motivated if he believes in the cause he is fighting for.

The ways to have a high state of morale in the military also work in civilian organization like factory and offices. Keeping the morale high will make the employees proud of their company and this will also motivate them to be productive in their work. When employees are happy and satisfied there will be less strikes in the company, and there will be less time wasted on non-productive activities. In a family, a high state of morale on its members can bring about a harmonious and loving relationship among them.

Related articles:

The Power of Positive Thinking: http://soceberty.com/psychology/the-power-of-positive-thinking-5/

Make your Way to Success through Good Leadership: http://bizcovering.com/management/make-your-way-to-success-through-good-leadership/