The environment you work in can drastically affect your mood and motivation. So, it could be argued that the state of your working environment is even more important than your job responsibilities and duties. Working in a place with a negative atmosphere can make employees unhappy, leading to decreased productivity and a lack of motivation.
Here are 5 ways to create a more positive working environment:
- Change it up
Some offices are simply drab, with boring colors and furniture. But, even if your office is painted with bright colors and comfortably furnished, looking at the same things every day can get depressing. Liven up your workspace with your favorite pictures, motivational quotes, or even some colorful flowers. Brightening the space and adding some personal touches will make it more enjoyable and comfortable to work in. If you can move things around and use some feng shui techniques, that will also change the room’s energy.
- Clean it up
A cluttered environment can lead to disorganized thoughts. It also creates a negative atmosphere. So, if your desk is messy and unorganized, clean it up and organize it. You’ll be surprised how quickly some simple cleaning and organization can alter the atmosphere and your mood.
- Team-building exercises
Team-building exercises always boost morale and put employees in a good mood. They build trust and a sense of camaraderie between co-workers. They also allow employees to talk to people they seldom interact with at work. Some employees don’t get to socialize with people they work with while they’re on the clock, and these exercises fulfill their social needs. The attitude of employees after team-building exercises is more positive, which makes the working environment more positive.
- Good communication
A lack of communication can not only be frustrating, but it can also cause catastrophic misunderstandings. In an office environment, it should be commonplace to communicate frequently with supervisors to get updates, tips, and other important information. There are many ways to do this, from regular team meetings to a company email server or instant messaging system. But no matter which method your company chooses, it’s still important to use face-to-face communication often. Some things just aren’t adequately conveyed through text.
- Motivate and inspire
Many office workers feel as though their efforts and achievements go largely unacknowledged. This is dangerous because if they feel it doesn’t matter how well they do, they won’t strive to do a good job. There are lots of ways to motivate and inspire your employees, however. You can take time to tell your employees that they’re doing a good job and that they’re appreciated; you could say it in a newsletter, awards can be given out, contests can be held with prizes for top performers or teams, etc. But it’s important that it gets done because it will boost morale and create positive energy in the office when your employees feel happy and appreciated.
Of course, these are only some ways to create a more positive working environment. It’s very likely that after you do some of the things mentioned on this list, you’ll be inspired to do something else to change the energy of your working environment, as well. And once you’ve started working to change the atmosphere to a more positive one, you’ll notice how much happier and less stressed the employees seem.