By Clif Cypert, Human Resources Director
We spend about as much time with our work family as we do with our family at home, and in some cases even more. With that in mind, a positive work environment is something we all should strive for. It allows us all to feel happy, motivated, and engaged with our coworkers, in addition to creating an enjoyable company environment. Creating a positive workplace takes some effort but is completely achievable when broken down into a few key points. Below, I will outline 5 key steps that will help steer you in the right direction towards accomplishing a more positive and rewarding work environment.
1. Be the Change You Want to See
Nothing speaks louder than your own actions and behaviors. Often, when things aren’t going well at work, we are hoping that others will change their behavior, and we focus more on that than thinking about how we affect our co-workers. So, the first point of a positive work environment is to be an example for everyone around us. This can be as simple as showing up with a positive attitude, taking the initiative to go the extra mile, or by being a supportive role model for your fellow workers. These kinds of positive behaviors are noticed by those around you and can become contagious. If you are intentional and work every day towards creating a positive work environment, it won’t be long before others see your attitude and begin to follow suit.
2. Show Respect & Courtesy
Treating others the way you would like to be treated is a rule that most of us were taught in grade school or at a very young age. A rule that not only should hold true in school on the playground, but throughout our lives and at a professional level as well. How we treat each other can have a profound effect on the environment around us. An important aspect to keep in mind is how we interact with those around us.
We all have bad days. All of us. It’s important that we don’t let our bad days negatively affect our coworkers. It’s okay to let your co-workers know you’re having a bad day or that you are struggling with something personal. Everyone has cars that break down, washers and dryers that break, unexpected expenses that pop up that we’re not prepared for, and we have to figure out how to deal with them. All of the events that happen to us every day can put us in a variety of different moods. Be aware of these feelings and communicate with your coworkers in a way that lets your co-workers understand that your mood has nothing to do with them. Respect and courtesy toward our co-workers go a long way toward building positive relationships in the workplace.
3. Have a Personal & Professional Work Balance
Having a solid work ethic builds the respect, and more importantly, the trust of your co-workers. Often times, we might say “good morning, how was your weekend?” Then, 30 minutes go by and you’re still talking about the weekend. It’s OK to greet each other and have a few minutes of conversation, but if it goes on too long, it’s also OK to be the first one to break from the conversation and say, “well, I’ve got to get going for the day” and excuse yourself from the conversation. This shows your co-workers you can balance the personal with the professional and you are committed to doing both and using time appropriately.
4. Practice Good Communication
It seems that lots of issues in the workplace that create frustrations are due to communication, or the lack of communication. Communication across departments, across shifts, and up and down the chain of command allows everyone to know what’s expected of them. It allows them to understand what’s going on upstream and downstream and how we can all work more effectively together. An important way that we all can ensure we are creating an environment conducive to proper communication and understanding is by practicing being active listeners and speakers. Having the ability to clearly outline the information and tasks at hand will allow others to take steps to assist you in meeting your goals.
However, being able to verbally communicate your job-related needs is only half of the story. Taking strides to actively listen to your co-workers and asking questions will eliminate any room for misunderstanding when working towards your business goals. When people are engaged, involved and good communication exists, problems are reduced, and everyone is happier. We can all make an effort every day to communicate more effectively to those around us and keep others informed as best as we can.
5. Follow Your Company Values
Having a set of core values helps create a culture around the way that your company strives to operate. This creates a shared goal among you and your coworkers. A shared mentality that creates a baseline off of which all employees conduct themselves across their work, coworker interactions, and overall work environment. Creating this baseline can result in your team having a sense of belonging and confidence in both the work that they do, as well as the way the company they are a part of operates.
Southwest Electric Co. has established the following core values that embody the spirit of everything written here:
a. Take Action.
I. Safety is a priority, always
II. Act with urgency and a can-do attitude
III. Find the best way
b. Be the Solution.
I. Ask great questions, listen
II. Solve problems
III. Deliver with passion
c. Grow Better Together.
I. Take care of each other
II. Hone our craft
III. Develop our expertise and business
If you simply follow your company core values and live them every day, you will have the impact of creating the positivity that moves everyone forward together in a way that results in a positive, respectful and happy workplace.
Conclusion
This is certainly not an all-inclusive list for a positive workplace but it’s a starting point to get everyone to thinking about the importance of creating a positive workplace and how we as individuals can contribute every day to making that happen.
Interested in working for us?
Southwest Electric Company is always seeking quality additions to its national team, be it for sales, engineering, field service, manufacturing, or other areas of the business. Click below to find out about our career opportunities or learn more about our company culture!
