How to build morale in a growing company

By Eliza Wing

Company morale can make or break the success of your company. If your employees aren't motivated, they're not likely to contribute to company growth. Eliza Wing, president and CEO of Cleveland.com, believes the groundwork for building a passionate staff should be laid during the hiring process. "Potential employees need to know what the company culture is and what exactly is expected of them," she says. "They need to hear, ‘This is a great place to work and we only hire the best.'"

Since 1997, Wing has headed up Northeast Ohio's most trafficked news Web site, which has grown steadily from a three-person staff to today's 40. Wing says the most substantial growth has been over the past year, and one of her biggest priorities now is to keep her burgeoning staff motivated and focused.

Because departments tend to band together within a company, there's often a lack of understanding of other employees' roles. Wing holds interdepartmental roundtables to encourage divisions to communicate with each other. "The meetings empower employees to talk about their concerns and questions about the company and it makes them feel more connected with other employees," she says.

Monthly all-company staff meetings also foster the "we're all in this together" mentality, Wing says. "The managers explain what their departments are doing and their goals for the month so everyone is on the same page," she says. "It allows everyone to see how they're contributing to the company's success and make them proud to be part of something great."

Wing also promotes company morale through staff retreats and weekly happy hours. "These activities are meant to break down barriers," she says. "It's important for employees to socialize in different environments and get to know each other outside of their job titles."