Employees are the heartbeat of the company.
They are the ones that keep your company running and they must feel good coming to work.
Therefore, leaders have to build a positive work environment to ensure the mental, emotional and physical well-being of their employees.
Wondering how to build a positive work environment?
What is a healthy & positive work environment?
Workplace culture defines the work environment.
Workplace culture determines the standards, ethics, code of conduct, mission statement and the level of toxicity in the workplace.
In addition, it is unique. It is created by the leaders and is maintained by everyone else.
That is why leaders have to be positive, ethical and mindful of their behavior and of the information that they put out.
A healthy and positive work environment is where people:
- Needs are met and perform at their best.
- Feel good about themselves and safe enough to express themselves.
- Are clean and hygienic, mentally and physically cared for.
- Are subjected to little to no stress.
- Are understood and their voices are heard.
- Are able to collaborate with others.
- Are respected for their contributions and not systemically punished for their mistakes.
The benefits of a healthy & positive workplace?
Creating a healthy work environment increases productivity, motivation and benefits.
Creating a healthy workplace significantly reduces absenteeism and employee turnover.
A healthy and positive workplace helps you boost morale, attract and retain the best talents.
How to create a healthy & positive workplace?
1. Keep work fun
Having fun at work increases productivity because it makes work easier. To keep work fun, leaders must:
- Understand that shame and fear are not sustainable motivators.
- Simplify policies and procedures.
- Eliminate drama and remove office politics.
- Create activities outside of work.
- Allow flexible working hours.
- Provide an environment where people can work out, eat healthy and relax.
- Don’t give people more work load than they can carry.
2. Be a positive leader
If your team sees you having fun at work, they will most likely start to have fun as well. If you are a positive leader, they will most likely start being positive.
Positive leaders are optimistic, promote trust and transparency, encourage change, creativity and innovation.
They build quality relationships with the people they work with, regardless of their personalities.
Furthermore, positive leaders are sensitive to all cultures and ethnical backgrounds. They understand that diversity makes their strength.
In the long run, positive leaders acquire a positive reputation. Gaining a positive reputation increases the value of a company, improves employee loyalty and job satisfaction.
3. Empower your team
Empowering your team is all about giving them the resources they need to succeed. To empower your team:
- Identify what motivates them and place them in the area of their strengths.
- Make sure your team has a healthy work life balance.
- Encourage team building activities.
- Provide additional training for those who lack confidence and competencies.
- Allow your team to take breaks throughout the day to recharge their batteries, to relax and to think.
- Give people their dues. Acknowledge when someone is doing good by privately or publicly complementing them. Also, be honest when an employee is underperforming.
- Treat your employees with fairness and respect. Don’t play favorites or openly disregard someone just so you could feel better about yourself.
- Support your team throughout difficult situations. When an issue arises, be compassionate and be a problem solver. For example, if someone on your team perpetually misses a deadline, find out why they are underperforming.
4. Encourage positive behaviors
In the workplace, negativity often upstages positivity. Leaders must take on the responsibility to bring positive behaviors in the forefront. To do so:
- Reward those with an exemplary behavior.
- Incorporate a code of conduct and policies that promote positive behaviors.
- Call out bad behaviors or behaviors that don’t meet your standards.
- Celebrate success as soon as it happens. This suggestion seems obvious. Who wouldn’t want to celebrate success? I once worked for a company whose higher ups would bully anyone who seemed confident, content with themselves.
- Don’t condone workplace bullying.
- Don’t shut down people who are expressing joy or who are celebrating success.
5. Hone your communication skills
Leaders who want to build a positive and healthy workplace must effectively and regularly communicate with their team so they can clearly reach their goals and achieve their vision.
Leaders with a positive work environment share their visions with their team, make sure that every employee connect and align with the vision.
Then, they encourage positive discussions, debates and brainstorming. They all people to say what is on their mind or to challenge the status quo without fear of retribution.
6. Help your employees grow into leaders
When it comes to healthy workplaces, there is no such thing as competing with your employees. If you help your employees grow, you will grow too.
7. Hire the right people for the right job
During the hiring process, it is critical to respect people, identify and hire the people who will fit into the company culture and who will add value to the company culture.
Last Words Of Advice!
If your team doesn’t see you taking continuous action and investing in their well-being, they will not implement your vision or strategies.
Commit to making your workplace a healthy environment!
Hope that I’ve helped you get it together on your way to leadership!
Don’t forget to like, share and leave a comment below.
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