Your motivation, drive, mental health, and performance are all impacted by your work environment. Employees are unlikely to feel confident or satisfied enough in their jobs to speak up if they work in a gloomy office environment with unwelcoming coworkers. For this reason, fostering a positive work atmosphere is essential to the success of your business. We’ll look at how to improve the workplace so that workers are content and motivated.
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How can a better work environment be created?
Developing a better work environment frequently calls for tact, empathy, and common sense. It’s critical to view your staff as people, not just as tools for the company.
These are 5 strategies to enhance both the work environment and employee engagement.
1. Select outstanding team members, and don’t hesitate to fire incompetent ones.
Employing people who fit your culture is the first step towards creating a positive work environment, as successful businesses are aware. Make sure your staff members are cooperative and professional. This also applies to those who are already a part of your team. Workers who are around toxic people are more likely to develop toxic personalities of their own, which can turn your workplace into a toxic place to work.
Hattie Jane’s Creamery founder and CEO Claire Marshall Crowell said, “It’s amazing to watch one bad attitude affect everyone’s daily performance.” “The number of times I have received gratitude for letting toxic employees go is uncountable. Even though it’s difficult, doing so eventually affects the workplace, which affects not just our employees but also our [customers].
2. Make your office’s lighting better.
The way that lighting affects employees’ performance and attitude is crucial. Researchers at Imperial College London’s 2021 study confirmed the long-held belief that exposure to natural light enhances mood, vitality, and mental health.
If adding windows to let in natural light isn’t an option, you have other options:
lightbulbs enhanced with blue. Blue-enriched lightbulbs have been shown to improve happiness, reduce fatigue, and improve productivity. This kind of lighting is useful for brainstorming spaces.
warmer-colored lightbulbs. Use softer colors in conference or break areas to encourage serenity and relaxation.
bulbs with a midtone. Use middle tones in conference rooms to greet employees and maintain their attention.
3. Create a cozy work environment.
Mike Canarelli, co-founder of WTM Digital, stated that relations between coworkers and managers can be greatly impacted by a neat and appealing workplace.
He advised, “Even if the sun doesn’t shine in your office, try to create a calm environment with comfortable furniture, functional tools, and a few extra-mile amenities.”
Allow your staff to work from a comfortable location, for instance. One option would be to provide them with comfortable office chairs and allow them to choose between standing and sitting at their desks.
Everlaw’s CEO and founder, AJ Shankar, said, “Make it easy for [workers] to purchase things like exercise balls and plants on the company dime.” Everlaw makes litigation software. We also have faith in our staff to handle their own schedules. They are allowed to take pauses whenever they need to relax or play games.
As each person works differently, allow employees to personalize their workspace when they find a spot that suits them, according to QuietKit founder John Turner. He proposes doing away with “same-issued everything” and providing a budget so that each person can create their own configuration.
4. Strengthen staff relations communication.
Pay attention to how you communicate with staff members. In order to foster a positive work environment, team members and upper management should concentrate on their communication strategies, including inclusive communication initiatives.
According to Dominique C. Jones, chief people officer of BusPatrol, “when employees are given positive reinforcement and shown how their work contributes to the success of the business, they are motivated and feel valued.” This entails creating performance plans for staff members and providing them with detailed feedback on how their work advances the organization’s objectives.
However, evaluations shouldn’t be limited to staff members. According to Samantha Lambert, a human resources business partner at Pactera EDGE, managers ought to be receptive to criticism as well.
Employees feel appreciated when they participate in decision-making to improve the workplace, according to Lambert. “Ask staff members what they think of a new client project or about a new benefit offered. Don’t be afraid to ask.”
5. Hold company gatherings to encourage participation.
Organizing events for the entire company can improve employee engagement. Employees form stronger bonds with their managers and with each other the more they interact socially. Employees can feel more a part of a work culture that values more than just turning in assignments on time by attending company events. It can provide them with chances to express their individuality and a sense of community.
Staff members may have more optimism to carry with them every day at work thanks to the morale boost that frequently follows these stimulating events. You could organize an escape room for an hour, a scavenger hunt, a day at the fair, or lunch at the office.