Who wouldn’t love to feel more optimistic at work?
It’s no secret that positivity boosts employee wellness overall.
When employees feel appreciated and respected, they’re more likely to bring a cheerful, can-do attitude into the workplace. Create a toxic work environment, and you’ll watch moods and productivity plummet.
Ready to give negativity the boot?
Here’s five ways to start promoting positivity in the workplace:
1. Don’t Tolerate Bad Behavior
Yes, that one bad apple can ruin the good ones. Negative employees who spread gossip about leadership or gripe all the time will bring the whole team down. If bad behavior damages team efforts or disrupts client needs, it should be addressed. Document behavior as needed, and discuss with the offender how future behavior modifications will be required. Additionally, holding everyone personally accountable — including leadership — ensures that favoritism or seniority isn’t an issue.
Positive Pointer: Be clear on what is and isn’t expected of employees. While it might be common sense not to swear in front of clients, a new employee might need a refresher on company etiquette. Address it swiftly and privately.
2. Listen to Employee Feedback
Challenge assumptions of your workplace culture. A manager may think all is good and well, but in reality, bullying is a real issue. By openly asking for feedback, it increases opportunity to create better policies, practices, and performance. Gather it regularly for the best results and more positive communication exchanges.
Positive Pointer: Be transparent, and share your own thoughts. Offer leaderships lunches where small groups of employees can offer confidential feedback. Reward honesty and good ideas by taking action to implement suggestions.
3. Give and Show Respect
This goes for individuals and teams. Show respect to individuals by never criticizing them in front of others. Offer support to help teamwork thrive. Don’t allow cliques to develop. Instead, encourage everyone’s input and give positive reinforcement and feedback to encourage employees to continue working with their strengths.
Positive Pointer: Show respect in all interactions — from the CEO to the janitor, everyone’s place at work matters. Say hello, offer firm handshakes, be inclusive, and honor employee strengths.
4. Cultivate a Culture of Politeness
Manners go a long way, especially in the workplace. Common rude behaviors might include eating food in the fridge that isn’t yours and leaving dirty dishes in the sink. There’s plenty of jokes made about these all-too-common office behaviors, but it’s not all that funny to constantly clean-up after coworkers. Being disruptive and using inappropriate language may not be pointed out as much, but are equally as rude.
Positive Pointer: Make signs and share reminders that common courtesy gestures are appreciated by all.
5. Be Friendly and Connect
There’s nothing worse than walking into an office where no one makes eye contact or mutters hello. If employees feel disconnected from colleagues and leadership, work suffers. Collaboration efforts will take longer and poor attitude about workplace culture will develop.
Positive Pointer: Take the time to recharge and regroup with employees. Meet and greets prior to morning meetings, quick cubicle chats, and lunch hour pow-wows are easy ways to feel positively connected daily.
Take the Lead With Positive Behavior
Since most people have to work for a living, doesn’t it make sense that a positive attitude at work can make the days go by a little easier?
For employers, this means creating an environment where that type of positive attitude at work is possible. It naturally starts with upper management and leadership, and it trickles all the way down to employees.
People take note of verbal language as much as body language and often mirror back the behavior they see. Mirrored behavior is a psychological process that happens subconsciously for both parties.
If you want to exude joy and positivity, think of your normal demeanor and interactions.
Are you open and friendly? Or is your door to your office shut with the blinds drawn most of the time? Do you greet employees in the hall, or are you usually in a rush to get somewhere?
When you start noticing a downward spiral of office behavior like disrespect or disconnect, take note and make adjustments to leadership styles accordingly.
A Positive Workplace Engages Employees
In the cut-throat, fast-paced business world, it’s sometimes easy to forget that people are a part of the bottom line, too.
If employees aren’t happy, your bottom line will suffer as a result.
Positive work environments promote better productivity and employee engagement over toxic work sites time and time again.
If your company struggles with issues like absenteeism, making slight changes to increase positive workplace attitudes can help. While your company might not be the perfect fit for everyone, creating a positive workplace culture can make the overall company experience better on a daily basis.
Without a doubt, promoting positivity is the way to bring out the best of your team members. By developing a positive workplace culture, companies can make it a joy for employees to come to work each day to create meaningful work and life experiences.
Why does a positive attitude matter in the workplace? Share in the comments below!
