3 Ways to Keep Your Staff Motivated and Happy.

• Author: Kennedy, Lesley

ATLANTA--Looking to improve staff morale and retention? It's all about relationships, roles and goals.

That's what Eric M. Robinson, a public service associate at the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute, told a standing room-only audience during the session "Growing Excellent Staff" at NCSL Staff Hub 2022 ATL Oct. 10.

Retreats can offer a great return on investment, he says.

"They help build relationships, so folks feel better working with each other and about where they work," Robinson says. "It's also a time for them to define their roles so people can stay in their lanes, or better yet, understand how their jobs connect with other jobs. And, last but not least, they allow you to set goals, because when you set goals, it helps everyone understand the direction you're going in."

1--Find Value in Team Building

For Tim Holbrook, deputy director and chief human resources officer for Kentucky's Legislative Resource Commission, being charged with creating a unique way to support and recognize staff who often don't get the opportunity to travel to professional development meetings or trainings brought a new opportunity to recognize administrative staff.

His team organized a two-day on-site retreat for about 80 employees in 2021 with the theme "The Value of You" and a budget of about $10,000.

"We wanted those folks to realize just how much we appreciated them," Holbrook says. The retreat included a variety of breakout sessions focused on both work and personal topics. Building on the event's success, a second retreat was held this year, with the theme "The Value of Us," giving employees a chance to talk, learn and get to know each other better. The group heard from speakers, including a global orchestra director who talked about bringing people with diverse skills together to perform as a team, and had the option of joining activities such as creating artwork, throwing axes and playing an escape room game.

Appreciated details included binders filled with pertinent information, preordered customized lunches and gifts. And since many of the attendees normally answer phones, other staff filled in to cover their work so they could concentrate on the program. "Hopefully, that made a difference," Holbrook says.

Seems it did: The reviews were raves. "It's nice to remember why we chose to work here and how important we are," one participant wrote.

2--Upgrade Your Training

For the 20 attorneys in Elisabeth Shea's agency, new-employee training...