Creating a positive work environment
Offering employees generous salaries and flexible leave policies may make for a popular boss in the short term – but what makes employees want to come to work every day and give their all for the benefit of the whole? Research suggests that to get the most out of employees, you have to create a positive work environment.
So what constitutes a positive work environment? A positive work environment encompasses everything that forms part of employees’ involvement with the work itself, which includes, relationships, organisation culture, office space and setting as well as room for growth to name a few. Keeping employees happy as well as productive does take time out of your day as it requires frequent communication, whether recognition or constructive feedback. The seemingly time-consuming process creates an enjoyable workplace and develops a sense of purpose among all employees.
Here are 5 tips to create a positive working environment:
- Transparent & Meaningful Communication
When you make an effort to engage with team members in person – individually and as a group – without knowing you are establishing a position of caring that subconsciously motivates individuals. The underlying trick is to engage in two-way communication and find out what individuals think and how they feel, whether it is personal or work related. The ability for employees to openly speak is what makes them feel like they belong in an organisation and work then becomes more meaningful and personal.
The use of emails or other online chat groups has its place in the workplace but should never become the main means of communication to get to know your employees.
“Social media is an amazing tool, but it’s really face-to-face interaction that makes a long-term impact” – Felicia Day
- Show Appreciation
The common complaint among employees – “we don’t feel appreciated”. As an employer or manager, it is essential to commend employees on a job well done. The nod of appreciation will instil a sense of accomplishment and purpose in each employee.
A simple verbal acknowledge for notable good work or for daily activities in which the employee goes the extra mile, is a morale booster. So whether it be verbal, monetary or gift, showing praise is healthy for the organisation as it will encourage work ethic that goes beyond the required.
- Training & Development Focused
The opportunity for growth and self-improvement is a great motivator for employees. A training and development focused organisation prevents employees from becoming stagnant in their careers, which will ultimately lead to either losing the employee or work that is sub-standard. As an employer, it is essential to develop hard and soft skill sets of each individual. Training methods:
- In-house
- Online learning
- Educational courses
- Free seminars
- Trust Your Team
The rule of thumb: when delegating, let go and allow the individual to action the assigned task. It is important to remember that the team is made up of competent workers that need not be treated like children (otherwise you wouldn’t hire them in the first place).
- Have Fun
You spend more hours at work than you do at home, so why not have a little fun now and again. A positive working environment is one, where everyone enjoys themselves and feels well-connected to the end goal of the project. A team where there is mutual respect, open communication and acceptance to differences makes for a happy and fun environment. As a close knit, it is possible to arrange spontaneous team outings and get-togethers whether it be after hours or for a short period during the day.
