3 Smart Ways To Build a Healthy Work Environment

October is Mental Wellness month and so it's a good time to focus on creating a healthy working environment. Plus fostering wellness in the workplace is just good business. Employees who feel respected, safe and mentally healthy perform higher, are more satisfied with their jobs and are substantially less likely to resign than those who feel undervalued, stressed or burned out.?

It makes sense, particularly within the current labour market. The labour pool is a much savvier bunch than they were just a few short years ago. They value themselves and their time more. They feel a sense of control related to their jobs that was mostly lacking prior to the pandemic. And even though current employment dynamics are volatile, workers who feel slighted, unhappy or unhealthy with their current employer are more than willing to look for a job somewhere else. Maybe even with the competition.

While there is no universal answer as to what constitutes a healthy work environment, there are some common elements that most thriving company cultures have in common:

• Alignment of Common Goals
• Collaboration and Team Mindedness
• Commitment to Excellence
• Opportunity for Advancement and Development
• Recognition of Achievements and Accomplishments
• Respectful and Forthcoming Communications ?
• Hiring for Cultural Alignment

Wellness in the workplace is a core value that smart business owners infuse throughout their strategic vision. Identifying where you might be falling short in your own workplace wellness initiatives is the first step to building an environment in which your people thrive. One of the best ways to do that is to really hear what your team has to say.?

Schedule one-on-ones with as many employees as reasonably possible and ask them the hard questions. Or you might consider creating an anonymous electronic survey. Either way, let them know that you are there to listen and not to judge or defend. Consider asking them:

What do you like about your job and work environment? What don’t you like? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate our company culture? If you were the boss, what would you do differently? How can we do better and be better?

Take lots of notes. In all likelihood, you will notice there are some recurring themes. Pay special attention to those because they appear to be pervasive throughout the group consciousness. Build a spreadsheet with the good, the bad and the ugly insight you garnered from your team. Include a separate column consisting of issues and ideas you believe are worthy of action. That is your starting point for the real work of building a healthy, content and productive environment.?

While you will learn a great deal from these conversations, remember that wellness in the workplace starts at the top – and that means you as the business owner.

Here are three smart actions you can take as the business owner to bolster your company culture and build a healthy, thriving workplace:

1. Regularly Express Gratitude & Appreciation.

Recognition is a big deal for today’s workforce

and can substantially improve engagement, performance and productivity. Consider a reward system, but also be sure to regularly offer verbal acknowledgement.

1. Establish a Trusting, Caring & Safe Environment.

Check in with your employees on a regular basis. Show your team that you have sincere interest in their health and happiness, both at work and at home.

1. Create Opportunities for Growth.

Employee and leadership development initiatives show your team that you are invested in their personal long-term success. Consider creating mentorship programs or other learning and growth opportunities.

Creating an environment where employees feel valued, safe and recognised is of benefit to both the employee?and the business at large.?

How To Improve Your Active Listening Skills and Why It Matters?

The first step to great leadership is your ability to communicate your goals and objectives to the people you have brought in to support and grow your business. Now you may think, “I already am a great communicator and I am always talking to my people." And that may be true. But talking is only have of the successful-communication equation – and probably not even the most important half. A business leader’s ability to listen might truly be considered the secret to success.

With October been Mental Wellness month active listening is also crucial in understanding what your employees are going through and if there are any warning signs. Employees also assist greatly in innovation if they are heard.??

Everybody believes that they listen. And to an extent they probably do. But there is an important distinction in how and why one listens. Ask yourself, do you listen to understand or do you listen to respond? If you often find yourself in conversation nodding in anticipation for your turn to chime in, you are a listening-to-respond communicator. And even if you haven’t realized it until now, your team certainly has.

Changing your communication habits and style can be challenging. In all likeliness, the way you approach conversations isn’t exclusive to running your business. Your family and other significant people in your life have probably also noticed your communication style. If you are a good listener, they know it. And if you are just waiting to respond, they know that too.

So how do you become a better listener and not just someone who doesn’t interrupt or dominate every conversation? It is called being an Active Listener and it can dramatically change the nature of the relationships you value in your business and your life.

Why Active Listening Can Be So Challenging

Before embarking on your journey to better active listening skills, take a moment to reflect on the times that you failed to hear what someone said or misunderstood the context of what they were trying to share with you. What do you remember about your emotional state at that moment? Like most business owners, you were likely very busy, maybe more than a little stressed, or perhaps just not very interested in what that person had to say. In all these scenarios, you were unable to engage your active listening skills either by design or by just falling short in that moment.

Every overstretched business owner has been there, feeling like they don’t have one last ounce of patience or capacity left in them to hear out a conversation. But denying your ability to be an active listener, even when stressed or tired, isn’t fair to you or the people who surround and support you. It is also disrespectful and probably not reflective of the business leader who you want to be.

8 Ways to Be a Better Active Listener Amping up those active listening skills is achievable but takes some focus.

1. Be Present in the Moment. Eliminate distractions so you can give the speaker your full attention.
2. Look Them in the Eye. Maintaining eye contact demonstrates that you are interested and engaged.
3. Don’t Interrupt. Allow the person to explain the topic at their own pace.
4. Listen to Understand. Don’t listen to respond. People know when you are just waiting for your turn to speak.
5. Be Patient. Not everyone shares your communication style; let people express their thoughts in their own way and at their own pace.
6. Be Empathetic. Particularly in charged or emotional situations, acknowledge the speaker’s feelings and express compassion for their interpretation when appropriate.
7. Ask Clarifying Questions. Keep your queries open-ended and non-judgmental. Ask them to elaborate.
8. Repeat What You’ve Heard. Paraphrasing helps the speaker know that you were listening, “So if I understand correctly, you are saying that you need more support in the stockroom.”

Business owners, give Active Listening a try. By practicing these techniques, you advance yourself as an empathetic communicator, you build stronger relationships with the team you have built, and you foster a culture of respect throughout your business. We all have our unique communication styles. At The Alternative Board (TAB) we use DISC assessments to help our TAB Members communicate better with each other and throughout their businesses. And the impact is substantial. If you haven’t heard of DISC or are interested in learning more about the positive effects these assessments can have on your business, please feel free to reach out, comment, or DM me.

Taste of TAB - In Person Events

During September and October we have been?hosting a number of sample board events. These comprise of a small group of business owners who will engage in a focused roundtable discussion of the issues, challenges, and opportunities we all face as business owners?and?learn a little bit about The Alternative Board? (TAB). TAB is a serious, private membership organization for high calibre leaders.? We place owners of non-competing businesses, on facilitated Boards of between 5 and 8 people who meet once a month for four hours to help each other do what so many business owners need to do and that’s work?on?their business: not just in it.? TAB membership also includes private executive coaching, strategic management software and a host of other services. ? At the sample boards, you will get a taste of how it all works, network with out her business owners?and enjoy some refreshments & snacks.? If?you are serious about your business and want to find out more about The Alternative Board then attending one of these events is a must. We only have two dates left with seats available. Herewith the links to register:

Taste of TAB - 25th Oct 2023 - 09h30

Taste of TAB - 25th Oct 2023 - 13h00

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