by Annette Poro

Created on: October 01, 2008   Last Updated: October 07, 2008

The Ideal Workplace

The Human Factor in Business Results

It sounds a bit corny but the ideal workplace is one where workers feel understood and recognised by the organisation. People are not machines. They need to be managed as human beings if they are to remain motivated.

Understanding, effective interpersonal communication and a culture of trust and respect are the cornerstones of a positive corporate culture.

The workplace is an environment that requires clear boundaries and clear messages. Individual and team rights, roles and responsibilities must be clear. People should know what is expected of them and what they have a right to expect. They should be able to express their point of view and be heard.

People respond positively to challenges. Solving problems and achieving results lead to a sense of achievement and well-being. Recognition of achievements is needed to stay motivated. Wise employers tap in to the potential of individual and teams, allowing opportunity for people to grow and develop, use their talents to address business issues. They recognise effort and achievement. Whilst monetary reward is always welcome, personal opportunity and recognition may have a deeper and longer lasting positive effect on employee motivation.

Every career is a journey and every worker is somewhere on that journey. Needs differ along the way. The new recruit and the old hand can both be happy and motivated, but only if the differing needs of each is recognised.

Frustration often arises from unequal treatment of employees. The ideal workplace has clear rules regarding the treatment of all employees and ensures equality of opportunity for all.

Every organisation has a culture and a set of business needs. Not everyone will fit in. Employees should be selected carefully by the employer with corporate culture and business needs in mind. A square peg in a round hole leads to problems.

Managers need to recognise that effective people management is one of the key factors affecting business results. In the ideal workplace managers devote dedicated time and resources to people management and people development, in the interests of business results. They know when to lead and when to support, when to facilitate and when to guide. They ensure that good ideas are captured, used and recognised. They know that everyone is different and that good teams require diversity. The result is a motivated, competent and productive workforce.

Human resources are just that, human resources. The wise CEO adopts and implements a set of policies that treats employees as such. Combined with a sound business focus, such a workplace is the ideal environment to produce ideal business results.

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