When running a business, one of your main focuses should always consist of creating and maintaining a positive work environment for you and your employees. Full-time employees typically spend 40 plus hours a week at their place of work; in most cases spending a majority of their time with co-workers and management. Given that fact, many businesses owners and C-Level executives are actively focusing on workplace culture and maintaining a positivity throughout. Here are a few ways to build a successful positive work environment:
Acknowledge the Importance of Employees
Your employees are an essential part of your businesses core and foundation; this should be reflected in your businesses workplace culture every day. Find ways to acknowledge each employee and their position within the company. Employees want to feel as if their job makes a difference, and has a positive impact on the company’s overall mission. Let your employees know they’re important. A little encouragement, respect, and acknowledgment can go a long way.
Regularly Recognize Achievements
It’s hard to recognize everyone’s achievements; however, to introduce a positive work culture into your organization, it’s essential to make it a priority. According to Forbes contributor, David K. Williams, “rather than focusing heavily on the motivational incentives, established a set of clearly defined goals. Then celebrate when those goals are met”. When an individual is praised for a job well done, he or she will naturally try and duplicate, or even improve, the efforts or performance that was originally recognized. Doing this fosters encouragement and motivation, and drastically improves overall workplace culture.
Eliminate Micromanaging
A significant part of building a robust internal foundation and relationship between you and your employees is a creating trust. While it may be easy to fall into a micromanaging role, take a step back and try to refrain. Give your employees the opportunity to show their work efforts, and trust that the use of their time at work will be utilized to its full potential. This gives your employees a sense of empowerment, rather than the feeling of being consistently micromanaged.
Foster Employee Development
One major factor that employees, management, and C-Level executives share is that you never stop learning. Creative new ideas make their way through the workplace each day; this should always be considered an opportunity to learn and grow. Even an organization’s top performers can learn something new and apply it to their daily tasks. Make it a point to assist your employees in continuing their professional development.