Creating a Better Workplace

Creating a Better WorkplaceCredit Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock Your work environment impacts your mood, drive and performance. If employees work in a dreary office setting with unfriendly workers, they likely wont feel motivated or confident to speak up. Thats why creating a productive work environment is critical to the overall success of your company.Here are four ways you can improve your work environment and, in turn, employee engagement.1. Hire great team members (and dont be afraid to let badeanstalt ones go)Smart businesses know that a good work environment starts with hiring the right people. Make sure employees are professional and team players. The same idea translates to those who are already in the office. When employees work with toxic workers, they are more likely to become toxic themselves.Its amazing to watch one bad attitude affect everyones daily performance, said Claire Marshall Crowell, chief operating officer ofA. Marshall Family Foods/P ucketts Grocery Restaurant. I cant tell you how many times I have been thanked after letting poisonous employees go. Though its a hard thing to do, it ultimately impacts the working environment, which can be felt by not only our employees but also by our customers.2. Improve the lightingLighting plays a vital role in workers performance and attitude. An article by MBAUNC, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flaglers online MBA program, states that exposure to natural light improves mood and energy, greatly impacting focus and productivity. But according to a survey by Pots Planters and More, nearly half of office workers said there is little to no natural light in their office.If its not possible to incorporate natural lighting through windows, there are other options. Blue-enriched light bulbs may reduce fatigue and increase happiness and work performance, according to the article. Use this type of lighting in brainstorming rooms. In meeting or break rooms, use w armer tones to promote calmness and relaxation. In conference rooms, use middle tones that welcome workers while keeping them alert.3. Make the office comfortableWorking in a clean, attractive office can have tremendous effects on co-workers and manager relationships, said Mike Canarelli, CEO and co-founder ofWeb Talent absatzwirtschaft.Even if the sun cant shine into your workplace, make an effort to provide a relaxing atmosphere with comfy furniture, working equipment and a few extra-mile amenities, he noted.For example, give your employees the flexibility to choose to work where theyre comfortable, including comfy chairs or a choice of whether to sit or stand at their desks.According to the Pots Planters More survey, people who labeled their work furniture as bad are three times more likely to consider their environment as less productive, and two times more likely to find it depressing.Make it easy for workers to purchase things like exercise balls and plants on the company dim e, said AJ Shankar, CEO and founder of litigation software companyEverlaw. We also trust our employees to manage their own time. Theyre free to take breaks to play games or just recharge as necessary.When employees choose a space that makes them comfortable, give them the freedom to customize their area, as everyone works differently, said Josh Turner, CEO ofuser feedback platform UsersThink. He suggested getting rid of the same-issued everything and giving everyone a budgetto customize their own setup.4. Improve communicationBe cognizant of how youre interacting with employees. gruppe members and upper management should focus on their communication methods and the effects they have on the office environment.Employees are motivated and feel valued when theyre given positive reinforcement and shown how their work contributes to the success of the business, said Dominique Jones,former chief people officer atHalogen Software.This means offering employees specific feedback on how their work is feeding into the broader business objectives, she noted.But employees shouldnt be the only ones being evaluated. Managers should be open to feedback as well, said Samantha Lambert, director of human resources atBlue Fountain Media.When you involve your staff in decision-making in an effort to create abetter work environment, they feel valued, Lambert said. Dont be afraid to ask employeesfor their opinion on a new benefit offered, or what they think of a newclient project.While youre working on communication, dont forget to show gratitude for hard work. According to David Sturt, executive vice president of marketing and business development at theO.C. Tanner Institute, effective employeerecognition can transform and elevate an organization.It ignitesenthusiasm, increases innovation, builds trust and drives bottom-line results, he said. Even a simple thank you after an employee goes above and beyond ona project, or puts in a series of late nights, goes a long way.Additional re porting by Shannon Gausepohl and Brittney Morgan. Some source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article. Sammi Caramela Sammi Caramela has always loved words. When she isnt working as a Business.com and Business nachrichten Daily staff writer, shes writing (and furiously editing) her first novel, reading a YA book with a third cup of coffee, or attending local pop-punk concerts. Sammi loves hearing from readers - so dont hesitate to reach out Check out her short stories in Night Light Haunted Tales of Terror, which is sold on Amazon. 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