Positivity in the workplace – If the way we spend our days equates to the way we spend our lives, then what we do at work makes up a great chunk of our lives. People can spend over half of their lives at their jobs. Some because they are passionate about their work and others because it pays the bills. In either circumstance, your work life can greatly affect your overall levels of stress and happiness.
Positive Words Research has found that if you try to avoid negativity, you can improve your work day. How you go about your workday can affect different hormones in your body. Stress at work will produce cortisol while feeling successful will produce endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin.
Though it’s not always possible to control the factors that will influence what hormones you produce, you can make decisions for yourself and direct your thoughts towards positivity. This is important for all team members to keep in mind, from upper management to entry-level workers.
Company Culture for Success – Positivity in the Workplace
Company culture is important for success. It affects drive, motivation, and productivity. According to Pepperdine University, maintaining a positive company culture is important in all stages of the company, including when hiring, when growing, and when working.
The university reports the following habits to be damaging to company culture:
- Inefficient management
- Too many meetings and emails
- Emotional pressure to perform well
- Negative employee behaviors such as gossip and ego
- Bonuses and performances rewards that don’t ensure quality
Instead, Pepperdine recommends that companies incorporate play, purpose, and potential into their structure. They can do this by implementing the following:
- Encouraging respect among employers and employees
- Expressing confidence that goals will be accomplished
- Support to do more than is asked
- Investing in both company and individual success
It’s important to shut down negative behavior, such as gossiping or bad attitudes. For managers, this means talking to an employee to let them know that hard work does not excuse a negative influence and offering support. For fellow employees, this means shutting down any conversations that include gossip or inconsiderate comments to others and shifting the conversation to a more positive subject.
Management Matters – Positivity in the Workplace
In general, there is a lot that management can do to ensure that they and their employees have a positive experience at work. It’s important for companies to choose their leaders carefully. That’s because they set the tone that everyone else will follow. Managers should embody the same positivity and tone that the company does.
Research has found that great bosses generally share five common characteristics. Sufficient educational support, a positive outlook, a desire for feedback, an eye for opportunity, and forward thinking. It’s important to keep all these things in mind when hiring managers, and not hire based solely on experience or education.
Leaders ultimately have a great influence on the rest of the company. The way they handle last-minute problems or setbacks will influence the way employees handle them as well. If they are patient, understanding, and maintain a positive mindset during unexpected issues, it can reassure employees and they can have the same attitude.
How to Create a Positive Work Culture: Practical Tips
Let’s shift from the general rules to the practical tips. Tech companies have proven to be successful when it comes to creating an attractive work environment for their employees. And it is not just about competitive salaries and career opportunities they offer. It is also about building a positive atmosphere. Here are a few useful tips on how to create a positive work culture:
- Recognition of the work and achievements of each employee as well as rewarding them for the work well done will significantly increase motivation and create a great basis for a positive workplace culture.
- Team building. Every executive has to keep in mind that team building is more than just daily meetings of all team members. To bring positivity in the workplace it is necessary to make employees feel involved and appreciated. Things like corporate parties, board games evenings and bowling outings can help with team bonding big time.
- Equality and inclusion also influence the level of positivity in the workplace. Not only do all employees have to be treated equally, but they also need to be provided with the right to express their opinions, ideas, critiques, and initiatives. After all, it’s important for everyone to feel valued and have opportunities for growth both professional and personal.
- A positive work culture highly relies on flexibility, caring, and kindness. Thus, it is important to create an environment where people can listen and be heard. When employees are free to try new methods and ideas, they can offer interesting solutions that will be rewarding to the company as well.
Encourage Work-Life Balance
Another way to encourage positivity in the workplace is to encourage a work-life balance. Working too much can be draining. It leaves employees without enough energy to enjoy spending time with their loved ones after they clock out.
To avoid this, companies should make an effort to not overwork employees and to encourage them. This can be done by giving them a reasonable amount of work to do and hiring more workers if that is not enough. A work-life balance gives employees the chance to feel refreshed during their time off. That way, they can come to work ready to complete their tasks with a productive attitude.
An encouraging company culture and a constructive management team can be the key to a successful company. Not only do these characteristics drive optimism in the workplace, but they can affect the overall job satisfaction of employees. In turn, this will lead to a happier life where employees look forward to coming into work.
About the Author: Avery T. Phillips is a freelance human being with too much to say. She loves nature and examining human interactions with the world. Comment or tweet her @a_taylorian with any questions or suggestions.
