Creating the Best Workplace

How can YOU make a difference at work?

We focus a lot on working with the business owner when it comes to creating the best possible workplace and achieving positive engagement. This does pose a question though. Can any of this be effective without the support from the employees? The answer is no. Every employee needs to be part of the process or it will be to no avail. That brings us to you, the employee. What is it that you can do to creating this fantastic workplace?

It all starts with general attitude toward the company you work for. How you view the company will determine your ‘behaviour’ at work and towards your colleagues. We sometimes forget the power of the brain when it comes to life in general. If you focus only on the negative, your entire experience will become negative. It becomes easy to overlook the good things because you have taught your brain to look for the negative only.

The good news is that you can change this. Start focusing on the positive things that make you enjoy being at work. Every achievement becomes a win and soon you start challenging yourself to achieve more. You are now teaching your brain to look for positives. Those negatives now are no longer negatives, they become challenges. When you are faced with a challenge, look for the positive in it and make that your goal.

What about teamwork? This is where personalities sometimes clash and it has an impact on the overall performance of the team. Teach yourself to put these differences aside and focus on the outcome of the task at hand. The reality is that not everyone will become best friends, but that is not what this is about. Even if there are strong differences between you and another person, it does not mean you must make this the primary thing when working together. Learn how to get along and support each other to achieve the results you want. Not only does it bring results, but you feel better while doing the work as you have established a positive working relation where you support each other.

Look at some of the things you feel would make a difference and talk to the business owner about them (or, your direct manager). Let’s use an example here. You feel that the effort put in is not recognised. Discuss this and explain how much it would mean to everyone when these are recognised. Not just as a pat on the back, but it also shows that the effort is valued and that ‘management’ is happy with your work. This is an open discussion where you can use your positive attitude to help not only your colleagues, but the business in general. After all, you want the business to be successful as that gives you security.

How you approach this is important. It is not an ‘attack’ on the business owner or manager, but an effort to improve the business. Instead of saying “nobody recognises the effort put in by employees”, try saying “I believe we can further improve our results by recognising the effort put in by individuals and teams”. Notice how this changes it from a negative statement to one that focuses on positive results? Not only will the business owner/manager appreciate this, but you are constantly teaching yourself to focus on positives only.

Start with small steps. Set goals for yourself and work to achieve them. Spread the word to others and create a sense of ‘unity’ amongst everyone to focus on the positives and work with the business owner to create the best workplace possible. How good would you feel when you can tell your friends that you work for the best company in town?