The Innovation Research Interchange (IRI), the innovation division of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), recently published a white paper on improving workplace morale and motivation.

The eight-page paper examines how organizations and particularly innovation and R&D practitioners can boost morale by remaining cognizant of employee workplace challenges, providing support, and fostering a culture of innovation.

Among the key takeaways: Senior leadership should actively build relationships to better understand morale and the actions that can be taken to sustain and improve it, and continued coaching and training opportunities for mid-level managers will have a positive corollary effect on employees and teams.

Research was based on three morale and motivation roundtable discussions held from October 2022 through January 2023. Participants represented a cross section of levels (senior executives to team members) working in innovation and R&D from IRI member companies. Industries represented aerospace and defense, industrial equipment and products, metal industries, paper, petroleum, building products, consumer goods, chemical and advanced materials, energy, and government agencies.

Access the whitepaper, “Improving Workplace Morale and Motivation,” on NAM’s website.