There are few things quite as demoralizing as a negative work environment. If you feel like a black cloud is looming over your business, you and your employees may start dreading work and some employees may start looking for other employment. Changing a negative work environment is challenging, particularly if the reasons for negativity are out of your control. Creating a positive work environment, though, benefits both your sanity and your bottom line.
Your employees are more likely to stay and your customers are more likely to have a positive experience with your business.
1. Observe your work environment. Employees are likely to be on their best behavior when you're around, but observing how they interact can provide valuable clues as to the issues in your work environment.
2. Talk to your employees one-on-one or bring them together as a group. Let them know you want their honest opinion and be prepared for honesty. Some of their feedback may be painful. For example, your employees may feel you're micromanaging them or that you're not available for help when it's needed.
3. Avoid becoming defensive. Listen with an open mind. There may or may not be true to what your employees are saying. Your employees may have misinterpreted something you said or did. There may also be a specific worker or group of workers causing a negative work environment through gossiping or teasing other workers.
4. Reflect on the information you've gathered. Investigate the information you received by talking with employees, former co-workers or managers, or business peers and colleagues.
5. Decide on an action plan. For example, you may decide to split up employees who are troublesome by moving them to different shifts. If you're the cause of the issues, commit to changing and ask a trusted co-worker or colleague to hold you accountable.
6. Celebrate your workplace and the changes you're making. Take your employees out for lunch or have a meal delivered. Announce the changes you're planning to make if it's appropriate to do so in a public forum.
7. Re-evaluate your work environment regularly and address any issues quickly.
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