How to Create a Positive Workplace

How do you feel when you walk into work in the morning? Are you positive, ready to attack the day, and know you’re going to be greeted by happy colleagues who all enjoy what they do? Or do you have a feeling of dread at the thought of the problems and conflict the day will bring, and having to spend the day surrounded by negative, unmotivated people?

We spend a lot of our time at work, and because it’s often so busy, stressful, and uncertain (I’m thinking of Brexit, among other things!), it can be tough to stay positive and motivated in the face of it all.

But, if you’re a manager or business owner, the attitude you take into your workplace can influence those around you, for good or bad. If you create a positive environment to work in, where open and honest communication, trust, and respect are valued, you will reap the rewards in the shape of more engaged employees, higher productivity, and better profits.

So how can you create a positive workplace? Read my tips!

Give praise and say thank you where it’s due

Praise makes people feel appreciated and valued, and if they know that their efforts are being noticed, they’ll continue to work hard for you. But don’t just say ‘great work’ and leave it at that. Tell them exactly what was great, for example ‘I was impressed with the way you handled that difficult client’ or ‘I really enjoy working with you because I know I can rely on you to get the job done, especially when there’s a tight deadline."

Make the time to interact

How does it make you feel when someone smiles at you or says hello unexpectedly? It can instantly spread a bit of cheer, so make an effort to smile at people when you pass them in the corridor or say hello as you walk into the office.

Celebrate the wins-no matter how small

It can be easy to get bogged down in what’s not going well, but how about rounding off the week with what has gone well? There’s no better way to get that Friday feeling by celebrating the week’s achievements in your last meeting of the week. Let everyone leave the office happy so they’ll be raring to go again come Monday.

Find an excuse to celebrate

Celebrating things in your workplace is great for morale. It can be work-related, like completing a big project successfully, but it can also be celebrating someone’s birthday or a new baby. Cake makes any workplace feel that much more positive!

Watch how you react

There are going to be disagreements in any workplace, but instead of getting defensive or irritated and making the vibe decidedly less positive, consider an opposing idea or opinion with curiosity, even if you don’t agree.

Get active together

A team who sweats together, stays together! Why not set up a team walking group or get a few people together and be gym or exercise class buddies? This encourages wellbeing and a feeling of camaraderie which might just translate into a more positive and productive working environment.

Bring fun into the workplace

There are so many ways that you can bring a bit of light relief into the workplace, from charity events like bake-offs to dressing up for special occasions like Christmas and Halloween.

Be grateful

This is a personal thing, but write three things in your diary that you are grateful for each day, no matter how small. It’s almost impossible to feel angry or irritated when you take the time to appreciate the good things that happen.

Be kind

Kindness costs nothing, but it’s a great way to make your workplace more positive, whether it’s offering to help a co-worker with something or holding a door for someone.

Remember your ‘why’

It’s all do easy to get down in the dumps when you’re run ragged and you feel like nothing is going right, but the best way to stay positive is to remember why you do what you do. What made you start your business in the first place? Who do your products or services help? Who relies on you and thinks that you’re doing a great job, even if sometimes you don’t think so? Bringing these things to mind can instantly make you feel more positive and remember, positivity is infectious, so give it out and you’ll get it back!

Struggling with creating the positive environment needed, then DM for a chat.