How to Create a Positive Workplace

June 20 2021 - As we spend around a third of our lives at work, it’s always nice if a workplace is comfortable and positive.

It’s near impossible to keep going while in an environment that doesn’t promote health and wellbeing. And while it’s understood that you probably won’t enjoy your job every single day, the working conditions can have a massive impact on how much you can handle and how willing you are to continue.

From a manager’s perspective, keeping staff comfortable and happy will help to reduce recruitment costs, lower staff turnover and improve productivity. It’s a win-win for everyone.

If you’re looking to improve the work environment for your staff, here are a few ways to do it:

Encourage communication

While there may be times when staff need peace and quiet to focus on their work, it’s unlikely that silence in the workplace is needed at all times.

Managers should encourage communication so that staff don’t feel afraid to speak to other colleagues. Communication can create a gateway to cross-department collaboration, which could easily lead to high productivity.

Providing staff with a relaxed place to chat and socialize is a great way to break up the office. Whether it’s at lunchtime or while grabbing a cuppa, staff need to feel less restricted within the workplace.

If you’re still not convinced, there are plenty of digital messaging services you could install for your staff. That way, they’re free to have private conversations with friends and colleagues without creating too much noise. Technology is a great way to keep the conversation going while working remotely, too, and will help to keep the whole team in the loop regarding both work-based and social topics.

And it’s not just peer-to-peer communication that should be encouraged. Eighty-five per cent of millennials say they would feel more confident at work if they had more regular conversations with their managers. So have an open-door policy for anyone who wants it.

Reduce background noise

While you should always encourage communication, external noises and equipment noise can become frustrating for those who are particularly sensitive. Source One Consulting offers a guide to reduce office noise so that everyone can feel a little less on edge and more relaxed at work.

Get people moving

If your industry is mainly sedentary, you should aim to encourage people to get moving around the office and to take regular breaks. Those in a standard office job should take a break from the computer every 50 minutes, get up and stretch.

Encourage exercise out of the office, too. Staff love work perks, and the incentive of a free gym membership, cycle to work scheme or a pet friendly office could not only help employees feel happier but also make your company a desirable place to work for new recruits.

Show appreciation

When was the last time you singled out an employee and thanked them for their work? While managers often think they’re showing appreciation, it can be easy to fall into the trap of high expectations.

To show appreciation, you and other employees should nominate people each month to receive a prize. Have everyone write down why they’re nominating a certain person and pick someone at random. This will incentivise everyone to work harder while also giving them a reward for doing so.

Focus on office design

Designing a comfortable, relaxed and modern workplace can significantly improve employee satisfaction. The agile workplace has become popular over the past decade as it encourages collaboration, flexibility and productivity. But even if agile doesn’t work for you, adding ergonomic and comfortable workstations, as well as decorating with greenery and small non-office spaces, can make a big difference to how good staff feel while at work.

Natural light

Everyone loves natural light, and it can do wonders for helping staff feel more relaxed, relieving tension and working more efficiently. If your office doesn’t catch much sunshine during the day, daylight bulbs can brighten the mood artificially.

Socialising activities

When feeling overworked, staff can quickly lose their motivation and become unproductive. Organising fun and non-work-related activities for employees can be a great way to boost morale and show your appreciation for their hard work. It’s also perfect for relieving tension, letting off steam and bonding with peers.

Whether it’s arranging food and drinks with an extended lunch break or taking a trip somewhere, taking time off together can help to create a positive work environment and improve interactions between people across the whole company.

Creating a better workplace is all about encouraging staff to feel comfortable and relaxed in order to reap the benefits.

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