If you’re an HR manager, one of your most important roles is to create a work environment that thrives on success and innovation.
And your biggest asset to achieve this goal is your workforce!
In this article, we’ll deep-dive into the rapidly evolving landscape of the business world where the concept of workplace has shifted dramatically. Today, fostering a positive work culture can help employees be more productive and engaged.
How to do it? We’ve got the tools right here!
The Many Benefits of a Positive Workplace
Research from Harvard shows there’s a clear link between happy employees and higher productivity. In fact, studies point towards a 14% increase in productivity.
On the flipside, workers who are unhappy cost up to $8.8 trillion in lost productivity. This equals a whopping 9% of the global GDP.
In other words, being happy at work is important – and not just for employees. Some of the greatest advantages for companies include:
Increased profits
Lower absenteeism
Higher efficiency
Healthier workers
Lower stress levels (which means fewer sick days)
Lower turnover – higher retention
Improved creativity and innovation
5 Essential Tools to Cultivating a Positive Workplace
According to a study by Deloitte, 84% of employees and 83% of executives believe a positive work environment is the most important factor that contributes to company success.
The reasoning behind this is quite straightforward: a happy workforce is an engaged workforce that will get things done faster, better, and with less errors.
Below are six tools that will help you shape the baseline of your workplace strategy starting today:
1. An Employee Recognition Program
Acknowledging the work of your team is one of the most important things you can do to build a positive work culture. In fact, according to Forbes, recognition is one of the best ways to boost team morale.
So, invite the whole team to brunch when you reach an important milestone. Offer individual team members the praise they deserve with anything from a thank-you note to a bonus or a gift card. Let the imagination get the best of you and start celebrating!
2. Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance refers to the division of your time and focus between personal and professional responsibilities. And it is absolutely critical to keeping the team healthy and productive.
There’s a myriad of ways to promote a wellness-focused workplace. Some companies will cover expenses for physical health activities, or provide stress reduction programs aimed at preventing burnout. Others will focus on workplace flexibility – offering remote or hybrid work.
3. Flexible Work
You don’t have to go fully remote if you don’t feel that’s the best solution for your team. Flexible work is more about time elasticity - offering some leeway to those employees who feel they’d be more productive if given the possibility to work from home a few hours a week.
Bottom line? Making accommodations to the diverse lifestyles of your employees shows that you care about fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging.
It used to be that remote work was offered as a perk to high-performing talent. Well, that has changed since the Covid-19 pandemic.
In fact, for many young workers, it has become a basic requirement. So, offering flexible hours can give companies a competitive edge when it comes to attracting new talent.
4. Career and Development Opportunities
Professional growth is important to most employees at a company – especially after having worked there for some time. The feeling of career advancement is extremely motivating and powerful.
And not just for employees!
Providing the team with opportunities to learn and evolve also signals to the rest of the world that yours is an ambitious and forward-thinking company – one with a strong commitment to its workforce.
Want to know how you can incorporate training and development into your employee engagement strategy? Here’s a guide.
5. Teamwork, Teamwork, Teamwork!
For all your efforts to create the perfect workplace, if there’s no camaraderie, then your efforts run the risk of falling short. That’s why it’s so important to encourage team collaboration and social interaction in every project.
The success of a workplace can’t be disjointed from the interpersonal dynamics of the team. You can strengthen this vital connection through regular team activities and communication exercises that help nurture a supportive work culture.
Cultivating a Positive Work Environment
As we’ve discussed here, building a positive workplace can help boost engagement, morale, productivity, and job satisfaction. These are all important components of a thriving workplace.
But you can’t do it alone.
Include the team in your strategy. Ask for their feedback and incorporate their valuable insights and suggestions. Allow them to actively participate in shaping the culture you’ve envisioned!
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