The most important thing business owners can do, when it comes to managing their workforce, is to set the tone right at their workplace. We have heard previous stories of horrible bosses and managers, but one thing that was constant amongst these workplaces was a bad working environment. The workplace environment heavily influences an employee’s level of determination to work effectively. As a business owner, you would want your employees to respect you and listen to you without any questions asked, not do it because they fear you. A positive working environment also ensures that your employees remain motivated to complete the tasks assigned to them, which usually results in better job satisfaction, employee retention, and reduced levels of stress among your employees.
Avoiding a toxic working environment is a must for any business if it hopes to grow in the future. Unclear communication between employees and management, frequent absenteeism, and increased levels of stress are common outcomes of a toxic working environment. If you are a business owner who experiences something like this at your office, then this article will be helpful for you. Today, in this article, we will share with you some tips that you can apply to your own office to maintain a positive workforce and environment. In addition to these tips, you may consider performance appraisal software or consulting an expert/specialist. Technology is always helpful, especially as it becomes more of a necessity instead of an option. These tips are listed as follows;
CLEAR COMMUNICATION
Clear communication between employees and a boss plays a crucial role in maintaining a positive working environment. Your employees should easily understand what it is that you want them to accomplish. It could either be day-to-day activities or some specific tasks. Until you do not communicate clearly with them, they will not be able to understand the work that you assign them. However, it is not a one-way street.
You, as an owner, should also know what your employees expect from you. An equal amount of communication between you and your employees sets an example that you run things professionally, which positively impacts the working environment. If you are an owner who lacks the skills necessary for effective communication, then enrolling yourself in an organizational psychology degree program will give you the tools to manage your whole workforce effectively.
LISTEN TO IDEAS
Your employees are working for you for a reason. They should have an opportunity to voice their ideas whenever they can. These ideas may require some work, but every employee must have their say. It will show them that you value their opinions and suggestions.
A good idea would be to set up a time during working hours, allowing your employees to give their piece of mind about how your office environment can become better. For employees that do not like to voice their opinion, ask them directly about any input they might have about making the office environment better. Valuing every employee and their suggestions will set the mood for a positive working environment.
ACKNOWLEDGE HARD WORK
Reward your employees once in a while, especially the ones who do a good job. Recognizing your employees’ hard work will motivate them to keep doing it for a long time. It also instills the fact that your company gives appreciation to people who work hard. It also encourages new employees to work harder, so they can have the same recognition.
A staff meeting is an occasion where you can acknowledge the employees that are the best at their duties. Take two extra minutes after the session ends to appreciate their accomplishments. You can also hand out rewards such as presenting them a gift card or sending them home early as a token of your appreciation. Acknowledging your employees and rewarding them will allow you to maintain a positive working environment.
HAVE SOME FUN AT THE OFFICE
Happy employees perform much better at the office than miserable ones. It would help if you enforced a fun working environment for your employees. When an employee works at an office, he or she spends almost eight to ten hours of their day. While maintaining a professional office environment is a great idea, that does not mean your employees have to sit around bored out of their minds. Numerous ways exist to make your office fun and, at the same time, a professional workplace.
Permit your employees to decorate their cubicles the way they like. Give out a reward to the employee with the best-decorated cubicle. Give them more breaks during working hours, and they will thank you for it. Also, consider the option of an annual staff retreat. It is a fun activity and can do wonders for their morale.
DO NOT BE AN INTRUSIVE OWNER
Do you know parents hover over their child and allow him or her no space to breathe? You would not want to do that with your employees. You might have the instinct to micromanage your office. However, that will harm the working environment of your office. Take two steps back to let your employees do what you hired them to do.
You have to have trust in their abilities to perform well. After all, it was you who hired them in the first place. Although you can conduct timely checkups, you should not be overbearing in performing those checkups.
FINAL WORDS
As an owner of a business, you will be the one who sets the tone for everybody else. If you are a grumpy owner, your employees will eventually become the same. If you show a positive attitude, it will reflect in your work environment. A frown can be more contagious than a smile. Thus, these tips will allow you to maintain a positive working environment.
