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8 Tips for Creating a Positive Workplace
By: Benefits by Design | Tuesday September 17, 2019
Updated : Tuesday December 15, 2020
For many, positivity in the workplace may sound like an easy achievement, but this is far from the truth. It takes a lot of time and effort to maintain a positive atmosphere at work, and considering we spend more than a decade of our lives—90,000 hours—at work, employers must make sure the workplace is a good one.
How can organizations create a positive workplace?
It’s a question that requires many answers because there is no single solution to creating a positive workplace. Here, in no particular order, are eight tips to keep in mind when striving for a positive workplace:
Tip #1: Provide Meaning to Work
Firstly, it is important to have a clear mission, purpose and set of values in every organization. Employees look for clarity on why the organization exists, what direction they are going in, and how it aligns with their day-to-day work.
When having one-on-one conversations, use plenty of examples of employee’s work to demonstrate their alignment to the company values.
Tip #2: Be Consistent
Consistency helps employees feel secure in their roles and responsibilities. Job security heightens accountability. Employees who know the expectations feel more confident in the decisions they make. Even in the face of change, consistent processes and procedures give employees a sense of positive wellbeing and security.
Tip #3: Foster Collaboration and Communication
Thirdly, it is important to foster collaboration and open, honest communication to create a positive environment. This means walking around to see how employees are doing, checking to see how they are interacting with one another, supporting each other, and sharing knowledge. It also includes having strict, no tolerance, open-door policies, and complaint procedures for workplace bullying and respecting one another in the workplace.
Tip #4: Be Inclusive
An inclusive workplace is one that values individual and group differences and makes everyone feel welcome and accepted. People contribute to the team by bringing their diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
Tip #5: Create Opportunities to Learn and Grow
Very few employees like to stay in the same role for their whole career. Most want the opportunity to advance within an organization or develop a depth of knowledge in their current role. If employees sense they are in a dead-end role or have feelings of being stuck, they may become frustrated, negative, and less motivated to work. Find opportunities to support growth through training, continuing education programs, coaching, and mentoring.
Tip #6. Recognize and Reward Achievements
An easy way to create a positive environment is to show your appreciation. Recognition simply involves saying thank you, whether privately or publicly. Everyone likes recognition for a job well done. Recognition can be informal by encouraging employees to recognize each other for their support and good work or formal through recognition programs.
Tip #7: Support Employee Wellness
Healthy employees are essential to a productive workplace. Employee wellbeing should be a holistic view that goes beyond the physical to include other areas such as social, emotional, career, community, and financial health. Supporting elements beyond physical is a foundation for creating a positive work environment and helping employees have a healthy, fulfilling life. Investing time and energy into a healthy can encourage better teamwork, increased productivity, and reduce sick leave.
Tip #8: Build and Support Workplace Connections
Lastly, everyone needs to have a sense of belonging in the workplace. Building connections relies heavily on employees having a sense of rapport amongst their colleagues and trusting one another to complete assigned tasks. Create an environment where employees learn about each other by working on projects together, mentoring and training each other to share knowledge, encouraging breaks with coworkers, celebrating milestones, and planning events.
Building Positivity
To create positivity, you need to encourage it every day. Lead by example, express gratitude, smile often, hold people accountable, and proactively encourage positive thinking even when things seem to be spinning out of control. Employees tend to reflect on the type of environment they work in, stay positive, and they will too.
No matter what size company you have, you can create a positive work environment.
