To have the best and most engaged employees, then creating a positive and conducive environment for them is really important. When your employees feel encouraged, are working in an environment that helps them to work, and are working for someone that obviously cares, then it is a great formula for people to enjoy coming to work and for them to get their job done well. So it surely pays to invest in creating a good place for them to work, right? Here are some things that you can do to improve the environment at work.
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Improve Physical Environment
To start off with, it can be hard to work in a building that is falling apart or that is constantly cold. The same goes for a laptop that is slow and printers that are always out of ink. Small frustrations like that in the workplace can have a bigger impact than you might imagine. So think about what you can do to provide a good physical environment for your employees to work in. It could be that you need to look for a roofing company to replace the roof at work as it is leaking. You may need to get new tech for the office, as well as desk chairs and a new heating system. So look around and make some positive change that will benefit your team.
Engage In Meaningful Ways
If you as an employer seem quite aloof and unapproachable, then it can be hard to create a feeling of unity in the workplace. It can be hard for your team to respect you or to approach you with any issues that you have. Which can lead to less productivity, which at the end of the day, affects your bottom line. So establish real relationships with your team members. Talk to them one-on-one. Ask them questions about life, not just about work. They will take the example from you and then do the same with others.
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Show Appreciation
Everyone likes to be praised when they have done well. But if you only talk to them when there is a problem, then it can create quite a hostile environment. So be sure to give credit when credit is due and tell them what they are doing well. Give thanks when an employee has gone above and beyond. When they know this kind of thing is appreciated, then it will make a big difference and means they’re likely to perform that act or behavior again.
Have Fun!
At the end of the day, as long as the job is getting done, then there is time and space for a little fun. Celebrate birthdays in the office or have a cake every Friday, for example. People will enjoy getting to know one another, as well as having a quick break from the usual routine. You can be spontaneous with the fun too, by arranging a soccer tournament or a night out; it is all good.
Everyone in the office plays a role in making it an important place to be. But as an employer, it will start with you.