by Nancy Seddens

Created on: July 12, 2010

A positive workplace environment should be sought after by every business owner and manager because it increases efficiency, increases good will toward the business, and reduces absenteeism. Happy relaxed people work harder and more efficiently yet often management is unable to make the workplace an environment conducive to work. What can be done to create a more positive workplace environment? Here are a few words to remember when trying to establish the optimum workplace environment.

Accomplishment:

First of all, managers need to realize that enjoying work comes naturally to humans. Humans have always had to do some sort of work to survive and most of the time enjoyed it because it provide them means to feed, cloth, and shelter themselves and their loved ones. From hunter and gather times thru farmers and craftsmen people took pride in their work and felt a sense of accomplishment.

People crave a sense of accomplishment; a sense that they have contributed affectively to a goal. The feeling that we has done well gives us a sense of security and well being. So lesson number one for management is to allow your employees enough autonomy to be able own their successes.

Publicly praise and recognize a job well done, encourage the struggling worker and do not humiliate the worker who is falling behind. The job of management is not to crack a whip but to offer moral support and the tools necessary to enable the employee to do his best work. 

Respect:

Employees are more confident in their abilities and are more loyal when they are treated with respect. Knowing the names of the employees and using their name in a greeting will increase their self worth. The best way to get respect is to give it first; employees who respect their bosses try harder to do a good job. Treat your employees as equals and ask their opinions about the work. You may find that they have some great ideas that will increase the work flow or cut back on expenses. The more respect they feel from you the more relaxed they will be in your presence and the more likely they will be to bring their work related concerns to your attention. Never talk badly about one employee in front of another.

Security:

Knowing their position is secure is very important to an employee. Although employees should always be treated like adults they do share one attribute of children: they need to know what is expected of them. Management needs to set reasonable achievable goals while accepting that all employees are not alike and that they have differing levels and different types of abilities.

Rules need to be in clear and in writing. The rules must be applied equally to all with no favoritism. There must be no confusion over the consequences associated with breaking the rules. Resist the temptation to threaten or scold but instead allow the employees to know the rules, consequences and police themselves. You can’t make people follow rules; only they can make themselves do that.

Let your workforce know how the company as a whole and their part of the company it is doing. Do not let them wonder and worry unnecessarily about cut backs or lay-offs.  Also, don’t let them wonder about their own performance. Give performance reviews regularly and discuss not only how they are doing but what they would like to see changed.

By allowing your employees to have a sense of accomplishment at work, treating them with respect and giving them a sense of security, your employees will come to work with a positive attitude and leave with the satisfaction of a job well done.

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