Have you ever wondered if there were some positive changes that you could make to your working environment in order to enhance success rates and, as a result, expand your business?
If you are in a managerial role, then you will realise just how much thought and consideration has to go in to the wellbeing of people who are under your wing. It can become very easy to get caught up in the statistics of a successful business and forget that the people getting the job done for you have thoughts and feelings. So, what can you do to ensure that you have a happy and productive workforce at all times? Implementing HR Software would be a good place to start. This software helps you to stay on top of employee matters, ensuring that they receive the treatment they deserve. It also works as an excellent organisation tool, meaning you will no longer feel the stress of having too much weight on your shoulders. You could also look at getting a serviced office like Loc8 Commercial, to reduce some stress of looking after the office.
This infographic displays the results of a survey which many office workers took throughout Britain, to help establish what an ideal office would be like. It is worth taking some tips from this guide, as the public have spoken and been honest about what they would wish to see in the perfect office. With matters such as team bonding, office perks and office hours taken in to consideration, you can really benefit from the results shown!
30 Shailesh Thaker, John Maxwell and Robin Sharma are my favorite leadership thought leaders
the ideal office should be one where teamwork is prevalent
Confused, not sure how this affects leadership of management gurus. what does it have to do with best speakers and trainers in the world?
Everyone communicates in a cards-on-the-table manner, solving difficulties in a positive way. They don’t play nasty revenge games when given difficult feedback. Instead, they view feedback as an opportunity for growth.
Employees give 200 percent. They strive to be the best and to deliver top-quality products and services. They take responsibility for their actions and decisions.
People enjoy coming to work and feel appreciated, acknowledged and rewarded. Signs of fear, domination, bullying, sexual harassment and intimidation are absent. Creativity, productivity and thinking outside the box flourish.
My ideal work environment is one that is centered around working as a team and that allows everyone’s talents to flourish. I find that I work best in an environment that is empowering and positive, no matter what the work is that I’m doing.
A great environment. A fun, open, energetic and creative environment can make a big difference in the overall atmosphere of a company.
It’s actually best to have an approachable leadership. The more people feel open to talking about their leadership, the more problems will get solved and the more job satisfaction people will have. It’s one of the reasons I prefer not to have an office.
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Filled with passionate people. Companies that only look at resumes and experience when hiring are far less successful (IMHO) than ones that hire people that are passionate about their work and the industry. I’ll hire passion over experience any day.
This are the things that matters for me:
1: A positive culture of creativity
2: Openness and transparency of leadership
3: Leadership that encourages and fosters growth and development
Working in an environment you feel is “ideal” will be better for your long-term success and will hopefully allow you to feel more like you’re a part of a business than just simply being an employee.
Even a simple ‘thank you’ after an employee goes above and beyond on a project, or puts in a series of late nights, goes a long way.
While you’re working on communication, don’t forget to show best gratitude for hard work effective employee recognition can transform and elevate an organization.
Employees are motivated and feel valued when they’re given positive reinforcement and shown how their work contributes to the success of the business.
When you involve your staff in decision-making in an effort to create a better work environment, they feel valued
Best practice to add is, Team members and upper management should focus on their communication methods and the effects they have on the office environment.
Also, survey says people who labeled their organizational culture furniture as “bad” are three times more likely to consider their environment as less productive, and two times more likely to find it “depressing.
Even if the sun can’t shine into your workplace, make an effort to provide the best relaxing atmosphere with comfy furniture, working equipment and a few ‘extra-mile’ amenities for the employees.
Right! Working in a clean, attractive office can have tremendous effects on co-workers and manager relationships
Smart businesses know that the best 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.
Best work environment impacts your mood, drive, and performance. If employees work in a dreary office setting with unfriendly workers, they likely won’t feel motivated or confident to speak up.
this explicates individuals affect and are affected by each other in specific work and personal environments or cultures.
One factor that significantly influences how employees feel about work is the environment, a positive work environment makes employees feel good about coming to work, and this provides the motivation to sustain them throughout the day.
Amazing that if they are emotionally connected to how they can personally succeed, the company will succeed as well. Best leadership article I have read today.
This is when everything comes together to show how a happy environment is.
At the end of the day it is still the employees and management hat matters in the story. best customer service comes from best people.
This is creating a unique way for best employees to develop their environment.
It helps employees have the best understanding of themselves and their colleagues with insights into how and why they do their job the way they do, and how to cultivate team performance within the company.
When managers are aware of how the employees’ hospitality, the seamless operation of front and back of the house functions combined the psychology of creating an environment where guests “Feel” special.
Same goes when you listen to your people within the organization, you’ll feel extra special.
Always understand others at a higher level to improve communication within the team. Best to always opt with checking as well their health.
It’s always best to determine communication and wants to improve methods of learning new skills.
The idea of this is to improve the relationship with the team.
This most likely can prevent conflict between employees and the management in an organization. Being open to each other opens a wider opportunity!
the best article so far. It presents an ability to maintain interpersonal relations within a management.
Team Work is NOT just about everyone going in the same direction toward an objective, following blindly seldom created Greatness!
The infographics of the article show clearly how we can help our management working!
Sometimes all it takes is to just find the fun at work.
In a leadership team, it is the quality of that most matters at times.
The idea of this for me is to strengthen the communication between the management and the employees.
for some, they do employee engagement to know their people more.
This makes senses! the infographics it shows a right customer service for any coaching process.
As a successful customer service representative, this is also my idea of an office.
In our training, we used to talk about this. Awesome article though.
I think it’s a fun way to show your employees how you value them. This looks like a good way to show the teamwork within a training or development.
This is such a good article especially for those in Managerial position. We, who are in leadership management appreciate this kind of articles. Thanks, Arthur Carmazzi.
I can understand what you’re trying to imply from here. I remember some guru speaker who talks about training and leadership.
Very advisable for people in the management role. The teaching it gives us helps management trainings to help their people.
I think customer service people should have this kind of ideas too for their coaching sessions or trainings.
It’s one of the best article I have read so far, I understand now what makes an ideal office for some people. better that I also read something related to communication style.
That’s a good article out there, talking about how your employee having fun at work, the trainer should have an idea how the employees think about the company.
clearly, not all think the same way about their company. Every leader should have got this kind of thinking when they do their leadership training and development.
Amazing how you actually came up with this kind of article, I had fun! The employees love it when their management actually thinks about what they like at work.
Understand the motivating factors that make working in an organization is fun! Best engagement programs sometimes show how strong an organization is.
Sometimes it is the culture that gives your people a motivation to be Best at work.
The way it was demonstrated using the psychology of infographics made it easy to understand the point of the article. This is the best way to share the company leadership.
making an ideal place for everybody works best when you have a communication with the best guru in the same organization.
it looks like the people love the psychology of working while having fun at work! best ideal of an office place article I’ve read so far.
there must be a transformation of psychology in this post. We must all understand that in order to achieve the best environment we must have happy employees!
Recognizing the employees’ side of their environment clearly shows that the management really listens to their peoples need. in this case, it’s best to have some sort of re-training to an organization to better have an open communication within the organization.
When we understand our own people, it is never hard to keep the best employees. sometimes when we listen to their idea of our own organization, the best result comes out.
What Makes An Ideal Office establishes an awareness of the emotional and best decision-making base for optimizing the way people have communication with each other in an organization.
A workplace’s atmosphere and surroundings can inspire employees to be best efficient and passionate about their work.
A healthy environment at the office is ideal for employees and it also marks the growth of the company. Opinion can differ from person to person. Good workplace with proper facilities can encourage the employee to work with interest
This looks like an accurate article not just in Britain but any employees will agree the most. The coaching of the speakers will also help employees engaged in the organization culture,
leaders who are fun to work with are always the best, they know what your ideal office is like.
The communication between the people in an organization is important to keep everyone happy and motivated at work!
What exactly makes an ideal office? This article explains it best. Employees and management are what makes an organization. T|hey know what is most needed to enjoy while working. Leaders must read this blog.
Making your ideal work environment more comfortable will not only increase your productivity but will also help you feel more relaxed and less stressed! Good article though.
I like an environment and culture where the leaders are in touch with their people and collaborate toward mutual success. My ideal work environment is one that encourages group thinking but still allows for introverts to focus and be creative.
For me, I really like to listen to music playing in the background while I work. I love piano and instrumental music, and I’ve tweaked my channel on Pandora to suit my tastes wonderfully. I prefer a workplace that lets me have that ability.
Wherever you feel you work the best, can you describe and define that location? What about the culture that goes into the work environment? Is the ability to get promoted at your own pace or stability important?
This is absolutely about work-life balance. For some people, the best work environment has set hours, with people arriving at 9 a.m. and leaving at 5 p.m
People are happiest and most productive when they work in the best environment that suits them. Good thing because there are training like this that will ask their people what their ideal office be like.
I excel at shaping and executing marketing messages- and few things are more thrilling than being able to get in at the ground floor to work with people who are just as passionate as I am about helping a business succeed. Humor is great- too- and when I read the description for this job- everything fell into place.
I’m a people person. I love people- and my ideal work environment would be one filled with diverse and bright folks.
I want an environment where everyone- from the janitor to the CEO- is treated with the same respect. Office layout does not matter too much to me. I do well in both open and closed layouts; as long as the best attitude of diversity and respect is where- I thrive.
I’m huge on respecting others and listening to different ideas and opinions- and it’s important that my colleagues give me the same opportunities.
A clear vision and identity. Employees want to know where the company is pointed, what the company believes in and what everyone is working toward.
Our company provides “flexible” growth for employees. As one of the best employee of a company, you should have the ability to change career paths if you’ve proven you’re a dependable, hard-working and passionate person.
A culture of collaboration. Collaboration creates better work, better results, and better culture.
As little politics as possible. While politics are always going to happen in a work environment, great companies have very little of it and work hard to stomp it out when it creeps up.
this promotes meritocracy. Simply put, if you show that you are going to do great work, your career will grow accordingly.
A fun atmosphere. I’ve always felt that if people are going to spend most of their waking week at the office, it should be a fun environment. When people are having fun, they work together better and they produce better work.
This is very relevant. While perks are best, it’s most often the culture, opportunities for development, open communication, mission and vision, ownership of work and environment of inclusion that makes the real difference for employees. Yet a juxtaposition appears to exist.
What makes a perfect working space? Does being a neat freak really make you more productive? Last month Wired editor-in-chief Scott Dadich argued the case for office desks free from coffee stains, scribbled notes and all other traces of human presence. Meanwhile, the Guardian’s Steven Poole advocated the profitable benefits of messiness. So who is right?
When it comes to the ideal working environment, the internet is awash with contradictory theories. Marcela Kunova sorts through the clutter to find the simple changes that could make a real difference
A Plaza acts as the vibrant and dynamic heart of the landscape, a place where people can intuitively take the pulse of the organization. They are open, welcoming, public spaces situated at major intersections and highly trafficked areas of the work environment. They support a diverse range of experiences and populations. A Plaza encourages mixing and mingling, enables multiple work activities simultaneously, helps broadcast information, and provides amenities as a point of attraction.
A Forum is designed to support the presentation of content. This is enabled by a clearly defined point of focus in the space, which tends to be architecturally enclosed.
It offers easy access to analog and digital tools and surfaces to display and create work. People should always be able to see and hear each other easily—even when not physically present. A variety of postures and distinct groupings of mobile furniture allow people to choose and arrange how space best suits their work in the moment. Adequate circulation space encourages movement.
Prior to a meeting, it provides a gathering space for attendees. After, it takes advantage of the visual continuity between the landing and its contiguous meeting space as an aid to contextual memory and helps drive the work that happens in this Setting. Accommodations that welcome a brief gathering drive the utility of each Landing.
A Landing is an open perching spot adjacent to Meeting Spaces or Forums.
A Meeting Space requires great lines of sight for everyone, including remote participants. Vertical display surfaces encourage ideation and interaction. Adequate perimeter space enables circulation and frees movement in this enclosed Setting.
A Meeting Space is designed to support information sharing—whether it’s a single speaker at the head of the room, or a group of peers conversing among themselves.
A Cove is a compact space within proximity to individual work points or common areas that enables people to assemble and engage with each other for a short period of time. A Cove may also accommodate remote participants with provisions for fixed and personal technology. Enough boundary to avoid disrupting others is essential—especially with the addition of technology. Territorial by nature, Coves are used more readily by the people working nearest to them.
A Cove may also accommodate remote participants with provisions for fixed and personal technology. Enough boundary to avoid disrupting others is essential—especially with the addition of technology. Territorial by nature, Coves are used more readily by the people working nearest to them.
A Cove is a compact space within proximity to individual work points or common areas that enables people to assemble and engage with each other for a short period of time.
A variety of individual and group work points with ergonomic seating enable people to freely and intuitively cycle between tasks and activities as they use a variety of fixed, mobile, personal, and remote technology. Maintaining proximity and the identity of the team within the Clubhouse helps drive the work that occurs there. A Clubhouse should offer ample surfaces to display and share in-process work. This Setting has defined edges with porosity for visual access.
A Clubhouse is a working neighborhood that generally belongs to a team assigned to a specific, long-term project.
For this reason, they tend to be located along highly trafficked routes, or adjacent to busy intersections within the landscape. A Jump Space may help connect people from disparate locations or teams who otherwise would not meet. It can be configured with comfortable seating and with bar or table-height surfaces.
A Jump Space consists of highly usable work points that facilitate temporary work between other activities.
A Jump Space consists of highly usable work points that facilitate temporary work between other activities. For this reason, they tend to be located along highly trafficked routes, or adjacent to busy intersections within the landscape. A Jump Space may help connect people from disparate locations or teams who otherwise would not meet. It can be configured with comfortable seating and with bar- or table-height surfaces.
A Hive is a space where numerous people can do a diverse range of work harmoniously. The Setting offers a grouping of individual work points and ergonomic seating. Variances in the spatial division, storage density, and boundary define the character of the space and help nurture the diverse types of work that occur there. Further ergonomic considerations may include the optimal placement of fixed and adjustable technology.
A Haven is a small shelter where focused work can be done without distraction or alternatively, a place to unwind. It can be an enclosed room, such as a private office, or a semi-sheltered or screened-in space out in the open. Depending on its intended use, the Setting may offer a work surface and ergonomic seating or take on a more relaxed feel. It should also easily accommodate the use of personal technology and other tools. A shared Haven must be easily locatable in the landscape.
Each of the following 10 Settings can be adapted and combined to create an office landscape that enables and empowers its inhabitants by providing choice and fostering community.
As any good cook makes a recipe unique by flavoring it to her own taste, so too can an organization customize the Settings to reflect its culture, identity, and aspirations. Says Greg Parsons, Vice President of Landscape Environments, “A workplace with the right mix of Settings, tailored to the character and purpose of the organization, sets people free to realize their potential. It enriches everyone’s experiences and improves performance.” In this type of environment, people can do their best, and both individuals and the organization can prosper.
Designing a Living Office Landscape is a lot like cooking a complex dish, or at least that’s how Lori Gee, Herman Miller’s Vice President of Applied Insight sees it. “Herman Miller’s Settings are spatial recipes,” she says. “They attend to the cognitive, social, behavioral, and physical needs identified by the Modes of Work—a range of activities people engage in, no matter what they do or where they work.”
Herman Miller’s Living Office provides people with a variety of Settings—spaces optimized to support work and interaction. Each of the 10 Settings is distinct in purpose, scale, and sociability. The right mix can foster an office landscape where people can immediately grasp where they can go and what they can do to achieve their goals.
The extraordinary building they were in, equal parts spaceship and womb, was more significant than they knew. Rising above an unprepossessing demolition site to the west, it brings together about 2,000 staff who had previously been spread across the borough. The prize it has won is a major endorsement of a controversial approach to development that’s now being taken by councils across the country. The kids didn’t care about all that, though. They just wanted to have a go at the percussion.
The office space should be one that assists in promoting productive and effective work and offers all types of facilities that are necessary for the individual or entrepreneur to function without any hindrance.
Doing a thorough research on available furnished office space in Bangalore is sure to help the person to take the right decision in his favor and get an office space that can help propel his business and achieve sure success. Furthermore, being fully furnished, the coworking space does become an ideal business set up for all entrepreneurs so that they can focus efficiently and effectively on promoting their business.
The fact is that coworking is the in-thing now and its demand has been increasing rapidly. To meet this demand, the workspace owners have been trying to have their typical office space to be turned into coworking space, to accommodate a maximum number of entrepreneurs, individuals, and freelancers, who are eager to try out their luck in business, without the huge expense or hassles attached.
Doing some research can help the person not only to find a suitable place in a wonderful location, but also very low rents that are sure not to bother the new entrepreneurs, who generally are seen to be low on funds. Most of the coworking office spaces are furnished and there are several choices to choose, ranging from meeting rooms, event spaces, training, private cabins, open desks and the like.
Coworking space does provide the individual with plenty of facilities include low rents.
The individual does not have to bother about requiring searching for the most appropriate facilities and furniture that is otherwise required by every business or need hefty security deposits. These days, there are available easily coworking spaces, which one has to find and select according to their specific requirements, budget, and convenience.
New entrepreneurs can find coworking to save a good amount of money and time, which is generally associated with the different formalities that are to be undertaken when renting out typical office space and setting up business.
On the flip side, this dampening on communication will also impact the type of people that you hire/retain, the culture at your company, and many chances for innovation. Imagine how different the flow of conversation would be if the office looked like this:
It’s doesn’t take a genius to realize that this will severely inhibit communication between employees. However, depending on the work that you do, this could be considered a “good office space”. It will allow for high concentration work and reduce possible interruptions.
Imagine an office that’s a sea of cubicles. Those cubicles are constructed of high, opaque walls. When you’re sitting in one of them, you can’t see any of your colleagues. It’s just you and your screen.
The office space should be one that assists in promoting productive and effective work and offers all types of facilities that are necessary for the individual or entrepreneur to function without any hindrance.
Doing a thorough research on available furnished office space in Bangalore is sure to help the person to take the right decision in his favor and get an office space that can help propel his business and achieve sure success. Furthermore, being fully furnished, the coworking space does become an ideal business set up for all entrepreneurs so that they can focus efficiently and effectively on promoting their business.
The fact is that coworking is the in-thing now and its demand has been increasing rapidly. To meet this demand, the workspace owners have been trying to have their typical office space to be turned into coworking space, to accommodate a maximum number of entrepreneurs, individuals, and freelancers, who are eager to try out their luck in business, without the huge expense or hassles attached.
Coworking space does provide the individual with plenty of facilities include low rents. Doing some research can help the person not only to find a suitable place in a wonderful location, but also very low rents that are sure not to bother the new entrepreneurs, who generally are seen to be low on funds. Most of the coworking office spaces are furnished and there are several choices to choose, ranging from meeting rooms, event spaces, training, private cabins, open desks and the like.
The individual does not have to bother about requiring searching for the most appropriate facilities and furniture that is otherwise required by every business or need hefty security deposits. These days, there are available easily coworking spaces, which one has to find and select according to their specific requirements, budget, and convenience.
New entrepreneurs can find coworking to save a good amount of money and time, which is generally associated with the different formalities that are to be undertaken when renting out typical office space and setting up business.
We had to include a picture that featured one of our favorite office accessories: headphones. No matter where you work (by yourself or in a group), having the ability to tune everything out can be a great blessing. Do you find music helps you get things done? What kind of music is your “productivity” playlist made of?
We like the look, but does anyone else notice how far up the keyboard is for someone sitting in that chair? We’ve found that reaching too much to type can really take a toll throughout the day (and week, and month). How do you like to sit at the office desk: straight up, or more relaxed? Where’s the ideal place for that keyboard?
A midlevel office, which could be set up either at work or home.
A traditional office: big chair, a big desk, plenty of light, maybe a wall mural or piece of artwork. While not the “cool” thing anymore, there’s still something to be said for clearly defined boundaries of “work” and leisure,” and with an office like this one that line is pretty clear. Is this kind of executive suite still a thing to be sought after, or do you think its time has gone?
Lots of space, lots of collaborative areas, short on privacy. Not the place answer your cell phone. For those of you who’ve worked in this environment: do you find yourself working more when surrounded by others, or less? Does the constant interaction energize or drain you?
We’re not sure the name “cubicle” really fits; sure, it’s built off the cubicle concept, and it could certainly fit in a cubicle-sized space, but it’s way cooler. There’s a best of both worlds feel to it, as it’s open enough to allow chance meetings but closed enough to cut down on some of the distractions.
The answer depends on what gets the most done: simplicity, focus, collaboration, prestige. We’ve tried many different office scenarios, and even after 30 years, we’re still figuring out the best way to get things done for ourselves and our clients.
Some people dream of the big executive office; you know, the one with the big desk and penthouse view. Certainly, that was the goal of the last century. However, other, newer, workplaces focus on open spaces. Our friends down at the Hub here in Raleigh offer lots of areas that are wide open, and a good number of startups have “brought down the walls” to encourage cooperation and group work. Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer recently made waves when she announced that all employees would be required to come to the office instead of working from home.
One of our employees was asked just that question during a business communication seminar. The answer is likely to speak to personal preferences, employment history, business traditions, and a host of other individual characteristics.
We’ve seen much experimentation over the years: open offices, closed offices, eco-design, and so on. But what it all comes down to is that a workplace is part of the human experience, and a nicer office can help you to have happier, more productive workers.
Good offices consider the joy of work. As an employer, you want to create an experience that is positive and proactive in the workplace.
Use Architizer. No, seriously—at least to scope out projects, and find out what you like. Once you find out what you like, find someone that you like. There’s a relationship aspect to working with an architect, too. You should choose someone you can get along with because the building process is a long and intimate one.
I’d recommend they don’t just go for a look “oh, someone used recycled wood, let’s do that” but rather focus on the functionality. Make a room list, and give an accurate brief of what programmatic spaces you need and what connections each of those requirements, and what kind of space it is. Is it a quiet space? Is it in the center of activity? Is it a sunny space? Basically, that kind of spreadsheet will save a lot of time, and the architect doesn’t need to come in and play analyst. He or she can get right to work.
You want to think about the efficiency of space and architects are really good at that.
The rule of thumb is that if you’re moving a wall then you hire an architect. In offices, it’s less true, because it comes down to space planning.
That’s not to say these systems can’t be aestheticized, too. Think about the Pompidou Center in Paris. We’ve all seen air-conditioning ducts installed beautifully. They can be something nice in and of themselves. All it really needs is a consideration—looking for the answer within the material itself.
The idea of not burying wires and infrastructure within walls and ceilings—exposing those things, like wire trays—is kind of a huge innovation. It’s useful because you can trade out equipment without opening up walls and destroying your space. You’re designing space that is built to grow.
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Maybe the trend is the rejection of the cubicle. You just conjure visions of Working Girl when you think about old cubicles. I think what people are experimenting with is getting that privacy without sequestering people into that defined space. Innovative approaches to privacy—those are interesting.
Maybe the ultimate version of this concept is what I call the “box within the box” concept. Companies are experimenting with creating a sort of private space that’s perhaps transparent, but quiet for a worker. The creative process becomes something unfolding in an aquarium … something to watch happen. It’s an update of an old idea.
It’s fun to see people fool around with that idea. From the pool tables of the nineties to the bean bag chairs of the dot-com boom, common spaces are changing, and becoming not just rest areas, but productive areas. In our Coolest Offices competition, we saw a couple of examples of interior amphitheaters, where either a presentation could be held, or a collaborative meeting. That’s new and interesting.
Specifically, you see a clear trend towards casual gathering spaces being a place to not just congregate, but also to actually do work, the employee lounge is now being used as part of the creative process. It’s fun to see people fool around with that idea. From the pool tables of the nineties to the bean bag chairs of the dot-com boom, common spaces are changing, and becoming not just rest areas, but productive areas. In our Coolest Offices competition, we saw a couple of examples of interior amphitheaters, where either a presentation could be held, or a collaborative meeting. That’s new and interesting.
On a larger scale, in-fill—the idea of repurposing entire buildings—is big. In cities, in particular, cool people are always on the vanguard of turning unused spaces into something useful. And in urban areas, unexpected office projects are popping up more frequently.
Green architecture was all about finding the most environmentally-friendly products, but I think that has shifted. Today, it’s not about finding the most ecological countertop; it’s using less countertop—or repurposing and recycling a countertop. Think about it: If you don’t cover your ceiling with another layer of material, you’ve saved a huge amount of carbon in the manufacturing of that material, the transporting of that material, and the installation of that material. Not to mention cost.
With the innovation of more human control over the atmosphere—electric lights and air conditioning—all of a sudden, offices were liberated from the window, which meant that architects could design incredibly deep floor plans. This over-control of the environment has been a detriment to the American worker. In Europe, there are laws that a desk cannot be more than a few feet from a window—the notion of an office without windows is actually illegal in Europe. In the States, only now is the trend changing back to a healthier, more natural way of building.
It can become very easy to get caught up in business and financial matters, rather than paying attention to the wants and needs of employees. Taking time to listen to their preferences and actually implement the changes that they wish to see will make remarkable changes for both you and your business.
Don’t forget that beers are allowed on Fridays and the dream boss would be someone similar to Richard Branson.
Specifically on team bonding, almost half of the people who took the survey agree that team bonding is important, so it might be time for you to start organizing a fun-filled activity day.
Team bonding exercises will occur every now and then, and spirits will always be lifted with an office dog.
Perks of the job would be a gym membership and headphones would be allowed at all times. These casually dressed millennials would be drinking coffee, working from 8 am to 4 pm.
So, results show that the majority of people believe that the perfect office would be home to a small company with teams of 2 to 4 people. The culture would be fun and creative and employees would prefer it if they weren’t always micro-managed.
With factors such as ideal office perks and ideal dress codes are taken into consideration, this infographic is a nice guide that can help you create the best workforce there ever was!
Ensuring that employees are happy in their working environment is extremely important as happiness is the main contributor to a productive and motivated team. Cezanne HR carried out a survey to establish what Britain would deem as their ideal office, taking a huge variety of factors into consideration.
Office environments vary depending on the size of business and industry, but at the end of the day, everyone has their own view on what an ideal office would be like.
Communal areas that employees can easily walk into and start to interact with colleagues also encourages inter-departmental relationships, which will improve company culture and cohesiveness.
Break out areas are a necessity if you want to encourage discussion, interactivity, and collaboration.
Providing spaces within which colleagues can collaborate in comfort, and in a less formal way, helps to build relationships in a more friendly environment and produce results that benefit the company.
A building can positively affect ability by providing comfortable ambient conditions, by enabling individual control and adjustment of conditions, and by reducing health and safety risks. Negative impacts on the ability to do work are associated with conditions that are uncomfortable, distracting, hazardous or noxious.
We spend a great deal of our lives in the office (although this will reduce as SaaS, and other technologies that allow us to work from anywhere, increase in popularity) and feeling comfortable is a priority when it comes to productivity, good health and mental wellbeing.
People believe that working by daylight results in less stress and discomfort than working by electric light and that working by electric lighting is detrimental to health, particularly in the long term (although there is no evidence to suggest that artificial light has any long-term health effects).
Ensuring that employees are working in a pleasant space will affect their mood, positivity, and effectiveness, where their day’s work is concerned.
Employees who are happier and in a positive frame of mind will achieve higher productivity rates than those who are demotivated or unhappy.
Employees who are happier and in a positive frame of mind will achieve higher productivity rates than those who are demotivated or unhappy.
Ensuring that your office is a naturally well-lit environment for employees to spend their day it is not only beneficial to their health but their productivity too, which in turn pays dividends for business.
Natural light is also great for reducing stress. In a worldwide study undertaken to record the impact of daylight in healthcare buildings, it was found that exposure to bright morning light was shown to reduce agitation among elderly patients with dementia.
You’ll not only benefit from the natural outdoor light, but you’ll also gain a few ‘brownie points’ with your colleagues.
If you’re feeling tired or lethargic at work, and don’t have the luxury of a window, then offer to get the morning coffee round and take a walk to the local coffee shop.
Even if we do burn the candle at both ends, the right amount of light could combat the effects of a poor night’s sleep. A 2013 study from the Netherlands found that people who were exposed to more daylight during the week reported feeling more energetic and less tired, regardless of how long they slept the night before.
A sunny day is equivalent to 100,000 lux (the measure of brightness), while indoor lighting only provides around 300 lux. The average person needs exposure to 1,000 lux to enjoy the full benefits light offers. Without enough light, our body clocks can’t function correctly, which in turn can affect our sleep. Not getting enough sleep affects our alertness, health and general productivity.
Sitting next to or just near a window while in the office is extremely beneficial to both employees and employers alike.
Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better, it also improves your physical wellbeing, reduces blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and stress.
Being in nature, or even being able to view a natural scene, can reduce anger, fear, and stress, as well as increase positivity and happiness.
With plants available from as little as a few pounds (or free if you or an employee has green fingers), there’s no reason not to introduce plants into the office space. That view and the natural light it brings
Making efforts to provide a pleasant working environment for employees should be at the top of every business leader’s priorities. It can affect turnover rates, productivity and, ultimately, profits. Listed below are some of the factors that should be considered when planning your office design for maximum results.
It’s a delusion to think that, if you’re an entrepreneur and you want to dedicate everything to your startup, you need to be always on.
When weighing up your options, remember that one of the best things about shared offices, hot-desking and even working in an internet cafe if you don’t need to make any long-term commitments. If it’s not for you, you can simply move on. For agile and open-minded start-ups, workspace options have never been better.
Two such cloud-based tools are Slack and Trello. Slack is a chat platform that allows teams to keep in touch, while Trello is a digital app that helps organize workflow into a convenient digital Post-it Note-style system. Tools like these can easily be utilized to create virtual spaces that replicate activities that might have traditionally taken place in an office.
Given the workspace-related cost challenges that start-ups and small businesses are facing at the moment, particularly in the Greater Dublin area, businesses can benefit from thinking outside the box about their requirements. Meeting up just one or two days a week is a solution that works well for many teams in terms of productivity and work-life balance, especially when the cloud already facilitates easy and collaborative remote working.
It gives us a great sense of pride to be able to bring our potential clients to Dogpatch and show them the vibrant, energetic and innovative home that we have, which very much matches our company’s ethos, says Hesus Inoma, founder and CEO of insurtech start-up WeSavvy, one of the companies based at Dogpatch Labs. This, coupled with the opportunity to work with fast-paced businesses and other hardworking members, makes it a perfect home for us and our company.
Firms must consider what their chosen office says about them if they plan to host meetings with clients, or events that reflect their brand. For instance, a graphic design start-up won’t want to present its work to clients in a windowless room with white walls, and a company that runs regular conferences will likely require access to a relevant on-site space or at least somewhere close by.
Selecting the right work venue requires SMEs to consider the external as well as the internal, so you’ll need to seek out more than the perfect hot-desk setup.
Working alongside a diverse group of driven individuals allows you to understand different perspectives. It fosters new ways of thinking, Walsh says. Co-working gives you more than a place to work and some people to share a space with, it allows you to network on a daily basis, and provides you with a community support system that wants you to succeed.
You can’t just drop a team from a large corporate office into a quirky co-working space and expect them to start sitting on beanbags and sharing playlists. Work culture is often built alongside or before a business actually selects a workspace. So an awareness of which values matters most to your company, an understanding of the culture of your chosen workspace and a certain level of open-mindedness are all really important.
Smaller companies, shared office spaces help create peer support groups. These factors offer additional business benefits.
You have the ability to work where you want, with whom you want, and even when you want,” says Walsh. “It’s less formal than the traditional office, allowing for a flexible schedule. You can come and go as you please.
A shared office space can also improve workers’ well-being by encouraging a better work-life balance, making employees feel less isolated at work. This has multiple benefits for a business: according to the Economic and Social Research Institute, work-related illness causes 790,000 productive days to be lost in Ireland annually, while around 18% of those absences are directly related to stress, anxiety, and depression.
It can be hard to build a start-up on your own, and having a supportive community around you really helps,” says Patrick Walsh, founder, and managing director of Dublin co-working space Dogpatch Labs. “That’s exactly what we’ve built here.
The rising cost of office space isn’t the only motivator for seeking out an alternative, dynamic workspace option, though. Being surrounded by like-minded businesses at a co-working or shared office space also means you have a network of possible clients and collaborators at your disposal. Interacting with firms from other industries can help ensure that water-cooler chats become productive, useful moments that add value to both staff and companies.
Interacting with firms from other industries can help ensure that water-cooler chats become productive, useful moments that add value to both staff and companies.
Being surrounded by like-minded businesses at a co-working or shared office space also means you have a network of possible clients and collaborators at your disposal.
The rising cost of office space isn’t the only motivator for seeking out an alternative, dynamic workspace option, though.
When planning a new workspace, Office Principles is often guided by the reality that, in most offices, the number of employees present at any given time is only between 60% and 75%. “We use those statistics to exploit the fact that a business can generally use less space overall and reduce the cost of occupancy,” says Jenkins, adding that office rental costs have skyrocketed in recent years.
Twenty years ago, people dreamt of having their very own corner office, says workspace expert Chris Jenkins of Office Principles, an office design company that works with clients across Europe. Today’s entrepreneurs no longer aspire to this: they mostly just want a chair, a surface and somewhere to power up their phone and laptop. With that comes the freedom to feel that, whether they’re in their home office at 11 pm or using the local Starbucks as their office base, it all counts as bona fide work time.
Add to this an acceptance that you really don’t need the sole use of your very own business premises to be effective, and the options available to today’s SMEs are as varied as they are exciting, not to mention affordable, too. Whether you choose to work from home, a local co-working hub or a luxurious shared office space, there are a growing number of alternatives to the cubicles of years gone by.
Every business has its own unique office requirements, and understanding the options will help get your SME off to a flying start.
In my experience, many of those “longer in the tooth” tend to be a cynical bunch and whatever is created in a new office won’t be quite right.
If you are involved in a business that is looking to move office, please involve the younger generation in the process.
Properly refurbished buildings often have historic and quirky characteristics which give a distinct identity to the building, and by association to the occupier. In short, a sense of worth. This is something that we know to be hugely important to many staff, and therefore businesses.
This appeals to landlords and developers because the risk of development is reduced. However, it also should be attractive to city fathers because refurbishment often rescues a building from obsolescence and demolition, and should also very appealing to occupiers because of the significant beneficial environmental and financial implications.
Going back to my very first point, this is tricky as not much office space is being built at the moment. However, there is another emerging market trend prevailing at the moment, the sophisticated refurbishment of existing buildings.
Companies are looking for office space that differentiates; that sets their business apart from their peer group and attracts and retains staff. Much of this relates to a dynamic fit out of the office space by the occupier, but it also is linked to acquiring the most appropriate office in the right location.
Workers’ biggest frustration is the lack of a quiet space for working, and the research seems to back this statement up by suggesting that there is a negative productivity gap for businesses based in open plan offices. Enough of the statistics. To me, it is clear that needs of the occupier, and as a result, the appropriate use of offices is changing, and quickly.
The younger you are, the more likely you are to want to work in the city center and very few respondents would work in a business park by choice.
The most important issue for workers in the UK is the length of their commute to work, perhaps not surprising as London data is included in the research. However, Glasgow has the highest percentage of workers stating that access to good public transport connections as being “important” (91 percent); 73 percent want good food facilities; 47 percent think a good environmental performance of a building is important; and 74 percent demand excellent quality wireless technology.
For generation Z or the millennials (and if you have to Google what this means, it probably tells you something). The workplace is a social environment; much more than just a place to work during the day. If I told you that more than 83 percent of generation Z leave their first job within three years, the quicker employers realize that the quality of their working environment will make a huge difference to attracting and retaining staff, the better.
Have a look around your office, does it inspire you? Do you like working there? Is it good for your health and wellbeing? And if you are an employer, what do your employees think about where they work? Well, I suspect they don’t think the same as you and that is what’s really important.
That has changed in recent years, for a variety of reasons. Change of use from offices to residential; political instability and the continued uncertainty of the “Scottish Factor”; tax-efficient regeneration initiatives; and – perhaps most importantly – changes in tastes.
The younger you are, the more likely you are to want to work in the city center. Unless you work in commercial property, it probably won’t have crossed your mind that in both Glasgow and Edinburgh, we have been accustomed to watching shiny glass and metal structures rising from the ground to satisfy the occupational needs of businesses.
This may seem a dry subject, but I suspect most people reading this article will be doing so at their desk or traveling to or from their workplace. Everyone has a view on their working environment – good or bad. So perhaps it’s worth giving this some further thought?
One of the best ways of determining whether an office is ideal for you is to make sure you tour as many office properties that match your requirements as possible. Having a good Tenant Rep Broker to “hold your hand” throughout the process will help you make an informed decision and find the ideal office that matches your financial, operational and strategic requirements.
An Office Design Company will help create the right look and feel for your company culture and brand, and devise a space plan that really allows your staff to interact and work productively.
Once you have found the ideal office, you need the right office design and layout to transform the space and create a functional and inspiring environment.
The ideal office has to showcase your brand, as well as provide a productive environment for your staff to work and your business to thrive. Consider the age and condition of the building against how much money you are prepared to spend building out space to your specification.
The type and style of building you choose influence the impression that clients and the public have of your business.
It needs to be ideally located for staff and clients to reach and easily find you. Determine whether you would be better suited to a central or out of town location, close to retail, or on a business park.
The location of your office plays an important role in the success of your business.
Office space is calculated on a cost per square foot basis, so to enable you to determine how many square feet you need to use the Office Space Calculator from Help Moving Office to avoid securing an office that is either too big or too small – both of which can be budget breakers!
Cost is said to be the main determining factor when choosing office space. Now, more than ever before, businesses are being forced to minimize expenditure and maximize efficiency, and with real estate being one of the highest expenditure for a company, businesses need to be scrupulous when it comes to office rental costs.
Whether you’re looking for a new home for your business or looking to lease your first office for your start-up business, there are many factors to consider that will help you land the ideal office. Space will need to suit your company’s working culture, company brand as well as meet your monetary and timeframe constraints.
A positive environment brings enormous benefits: employee retention and the valuable intellectual capital that comes with it, good customer relationships, increased profits and the pick of the brightest new talent.
While details will vary, the important features of a work environment include relationships between coworkers, relationships between employees and managers, organizational culture, physical office space, easy communications and opportunities for personal development.
Companies cannot simply order a positive working environment like they would printer ink. It’s a complex and home-grown concept, and getting it right means putting together hundreds of elements to build a work environment that makes workers feel happy and secure.
When it comes to employee engagement, there are many factors at play. But one of the most critical is a positive working environment, one that makes employees feel good about coming to work and motivates them through long days and difficult projects.
Once you have settled into your ideal work environment, keep up the pace by making constant strides to a happy workplace. Employees are at their happiest when the culture fits every individual in the company.
When you are looking to change or adapt to your work environment, don’t set limitations on how to get there. Be open about where you would like to end up and set yourself a plan to get there. Start by having a conversation with your manager about the education and training that you would like to have: open the door for communication about your future right from the start.
If you see a coworker struggling with a project or have advice for them, try offering support by offering assistance or thanking them for working so hard. Don’t approach the situation with immediate changes or advice on how something should be done, others will generally get defensive doing this and you want to build a good working relationship.
You know how I mentioned that being open with others is important? Being available to help your coworkers when they need it is just as important. Teamwork will allow each of you to invest time in each other, as well as the projects and ideas at hand.
When you are looking to change or adapt to your work environment, don’t set limitations on how to get there. Be open about where you would like to end up and set yourself a plan to get there. Start by having a conversation with your manager about the education and training that you would like to have: open the door for communication about your future right from the start.
Focus on team building and don’t leave out coworkers that you may not often need to interact with. Don’t worry if you have an introverted personality, there are still ways for you to converse with one another. Sending words of encouragement or asking questions is a great start.
You know how I mentioned that being open with others is important? Being available to help your coworkers when they need it is just as important. Teamwork will allow each of you to invest time in each other, as well as the projects and ideas at hand.
Being able to openly express new ideas and welcome other’s talents should start from day one. When an open work environment is encouraged, tasks and even roadblocks will be easier to manage.
Choosing to be open with your coworkers about any changes that you would like to make will help you feel more comfortable when taking action.
Communication with other coworkers and your superiors is key to being inspired at work.
Once you have discovered your ideal environment, you can start taking action to get there.
Your work environment, whether you are currently employed or looking for a job, isn’t always going to be a perfect fit from the start but there should be some immediate glimpse that it will work for you eventually. A culture that is molded around a company vision may not be a home run for you right away but don’t be shy if there are some areas that fit your idea of culture: as long as the company mostly fits the culture that you are expecting, give it a try!
A work environment isn’t simply defined by the office size or space but also by the interactions with other employees, an involvement of management, and communication expectations.
70% of workers in America are disengaged in the office. Are you one of them? It’s hard to feel productive, involved in the company, and motivated when you aren’t regularly engaging with the culture of your office. Identifying your ideal work environment is a great start to changing that feeling.
The first point in this article may be hard to implement in your office but the others are easy enough to do so. So, if you want to bolster your employees’ performance while simultaneously increasing their job-satisfaction and enthusiasm to work, get to deploying these strategies sooner rather than later.
Doing so makes them feel more valued and increases their enthusiasm, which in turn drives them to put in more effort at their job. It’s not only the employees; managers should be equally open to feedback as well. Allowing your subordinates to suggest changes and then implementing those changes is a great way to create trust and gain loyalty. Any business that has this aspect nailed down is always going to succeed.
One vital practice is telling employees how their work contributes to the company’s overall goals.
Even acknowledging an employee’s contribution with a simple ‘good job’ or ‘thank you’ goes a long way.
Along with dealing out constructive criticism when it’s warranted, it’s crucial for the management to provide positive feedback to employees when they deserve it.
Feedback is another extremely important aspect of a good communication strategy.
The importance of open and effective communication in a workplace has been touted countless times and for good reason. Employees who interact with each other regularly soon build a rapport and work more effectively as a group. And the flow of communication should exist across all strata of positions in a company, from the upper management to the junior-most employees, everyone should be asked to contribute to decision-making and ideating.
Any organization that enforces strict work hours and processes that restrict an employee’s work comes across as a bureaucracy, and no one likes working for one of those.
Every enterprise requires rules and policies to function; winging-it has never been a formula for success. But the requirement is to only implement those rules which your employees understand, view as legitimate, and truly benefit from.
The freedom and reduced stress derived from a flexible work schedule directly translates to higher levels of job-satisfaction and increased productivity.
Employees who can dictate their own work schedule will invariably be more satisfied at work due to the autonomy they’ve been granted. No one likes being forced to adhere to schedules and policies that exist just for the sake of it and doing so robs them of any pleasure they may derive from their jobs.
Allowing employees to work on their own time gives them a better work-life balance which in turn dramatically reduces stress and improves their psychological well-being.
Flexibility at work, on the other hand, has several invaluable benefits.
For all the talk about ‘work smarter, not harder’, most companies have such strict processes and policies in place that their employees are rendered incapable of doing either.
Individuals are more creative and generate better ideas when left alone, divergent thinking, whereas groups are better at selecting the most promising ideas out of the pool, convergent thinking. To this effect, she suggests that brainstorming sessions follow a strategy where individuals are asked to write down their ideas and then share them with the group for feedback. Conducting multiple rounds of such sessions allows employees to build upon others’ ideas while deciding which ones are worth pursuing.
Leigh Thompson, a professor at Northwestern University, after going through several studies on improving the creativity of work groups, concluded that brainstorming sessions can be useful, but not in the manner they’re most commonly conducted.
While brainstorming sessions are believed the best way to unleash the potential of the company’s employees as a collective group, research has proven that they don’t work. A study by Yale University showed that brainstorming sessions end up reducing the creativity of individuals participating in them while those who are asked to ideate on their own often come with better and more effective solutions to the presented problems.
If that isn’t feasible, companies should at least try following a segmented office layout that has separate areas for quiet work, to conduct calls, or hold meetings.
Not only that, such offices also result in more sick leaves being taken by employees as compared to their closed-space counterparts. So, perhaps it’s time to eschew open-plan offices in favor of ones that accord employees private spaces to do their work without distractions.
Add to that the ceaseless distractions, primarily noise, that spring up in an open-plan office, and you have the best recipe for minimum productivity.
There is no discernible rise in collaboration between employees, most of whom just want a private space to concentrate on their work.
The lack of ‘psychological privacy’ that accompanies such a work layout is detrimental to creativity, focus, and as a result, job performance.
Open-plan offices seem to be all the rage these days. A trend initially sparked by startups, it has since been adopted by countless enterprises in a bid to reinvigorate their employees through what they think will improve communication and bolster the flow of ideas. But several studies have shown that open-plan offices yield countless negative results and hardly any positive ones.
When an office is conducive to a relaxed environment, one where employees are not needlessly encumbered by factors beyond their control, the business will automatically witness higher levels of productivity, engagement, job satisfaction, and motivation in its employees.
A workplace that causes physical or mental discomfort to its employees is guaranteed to see lower levels of productivity. And why wouldn’t it? People can’t be expected to give their best at work if the very idea of going to the office fills them with dread and stresses them out.
A company’s work environment is one of the most crucial factors affecting the performance of its employees.
The goal of environmental exploration is to help you understand what you are ultimately looking to achieve from your work. Gaining an awareness of different occupations and work environments helps you identify best fits with your life themes — that is, the combination of values, interests, and abilities specific to you. Research shows that individuals who exhibit awareness of self and environment make more compatible career choices, perform better and longer in their employment positions, and derive more satisfaction from work.
Not only does collaboration make employees happier, but around half of millennials say workplace friendships motivate them, and 30 percent say these friendships make them more productive. Of course, there are tasks that only require one person. But when possible, encourage employees to team up and work together for the sake of their satisfaction and productivity. You’ll spark innovative ideas across the workplace generational divide.
Millennials want someone to look up to. They want someone they can trust with more than just evaluations and questions about office policy. As they begin integrating into the workforce, they want people who will help them through the rough patches of starting a new company and guide them along the way. They want mentors.
Leaders as People
Millennials may have a different view of how they’d like to work, but they still respect the more experienced generations in the workforce. They want to work for people who will inspire them to do great work. They’re not inspired by things like money or status, but rather by core competencies and personality traits.
Having a helpful boss is very important for every employee.
No place is perfect, but if you begin with the end in mind and think about walking in your employee’s shoes, you will be well on your way to creating a positive, productive workplace where people are happy to be part of your vision, contributing to your end goal.
Treat each employee as a person. Remember to recognize people not only for what they do but who they are. Understand that each employee yearns for respect in both their work and their personal lives. Get to know your employees. Celebrate personal and professional milestones. Support employees when they face personal challenges. A little bit of caring goes a long way toward employee and brand loyalty.
Encourage social activities and fun outside the office for those who want to participate. Include family and friends when possible. In the end, if people know and understand each other, you can build a positive workplace culture.
Have a little fun. Being happy at work includes finding your passion, working toward it and having fun along the way. It’s about the journey as much as the destination. It also includes sharing your passion with others. No one said that you cannot have a little fun and laughter at work. People spend a lot of time working today. Making the workplace somewhere that employees actually enjoy will ensure people are working to support and deliver your mission.
In a small company, that’s probably you. An employee’s attitude is a direct reflection of leadership. Leading others is not easy. Reach out to mentors and identify training opportunities to help you develop your skills as a leader.
Be the leader that you wanted as an employee. Research consistently suggests that an employee’s everyday experience, and as a result, the perception of where they work is most directly correlated with their relationship and experience with his or her direct supervisor.
Celebrate personal and professional milestones. Support employees when they face personal challenges. A little bit of caring goes a long way toward employee and brand loyalty.
Treat each employee as a person. Remember to recognize people not only for what they do but who they are. Understand that each employee yearns for respect in both their work and their personal lives. Get to know your employees.
Sixty-six percent of high school students feel it is acceptable to check a mobile device for work during family time. Only 43 percent of workers age 55 and older agree with this.
While this is often more difficult for small business owners, think creatively. According to the Glassdoor survey, at Facebook, employees are frowned upon for missing important family affairs. Be flexible. Perhaps employees can work from home or shift hours to spend time with the children each day or go to school.
Eighty-seven percent of high school students believe that a worker should be promoted every two to three years, as long as they are performing at a high level. Conversely, only 73 percent of current workers feel the same way.
No one knows more than an entrepreneur that time is one of the most valuable commodities in life. In today’s technology-driven world, employees can easily stay connected to what’s happening with the business without being physically present.
While 33 percent of current workers believe it should not matter what time you arrive at the office, as long as your work is completed, only 25 percent of high school students feel the same way.
Through projects and training opportunities, an ideal workplace helps employees to grow individually which may great spillover for your company, culture, and morale. Growth includes future positions in the organization. Learn where your employees want to go and help them to find the path.
Provide opportunities for growth and development. It’s part of the human condition to be productive. People want to grow, develop and be challenged.
Make sure to provide both positive and constructive feedback. Encourage feedback about the workplace, challenges, and opportunities for continuous improvement. Actively listen. Open communication practices will help to reduce silos as your company grows.
Provide opportunities to communicate with employees not just to them.
Make sure every employee understands he or she contributes to the mission and vision. This is about connecting the dots for each employee, not only when they join the company, but consistently while working for your company. Your mission should be your rallying cry and help each employee know what they are contributing to daily. It provides your measurement tool as well.
Your mission should serve as your compass. If you are doing something that does not deliver against it, you should not be doing it.
It’s important to think about your vision and write it down. Hone it. And own it.
Identify what your company stands for, where you want to take it and why you are doing what you are doing.
Many of the companies at the top of these lists also may make these same employees feel miserable. Why would employees rate their companies as the ideal place to work when, in fact, these same employees feel exhausted, overwhelmed and maybe even become ill due to the long hours and lack of rest and recovery time? According to the qualitative research from the New York Times, today’s employees are prisoners of low expectations. And they are worn-out.
While perks are important, it’s most often the culture, opportunities for development, open communication, mission and vision, ownership of work and environment of inclusion that makes the real difference for employees. Yet a juxtaposition appears to exist.
Your ideal work environment may not be the same as the person sitting in the office (or cubicle) next door. The same holds true when comparing the attitudes of different generations.
The system of positive sanctions is necessary for any arrangement of social order and workplaces are no exception to this rule. Rewards are crucial for inducing encouragement of a certain form of behavior. Psychologists call this ‘Positive Reinforcement’ under operant conditioning according to which rewarding certain workers for their efforts lead to a more motivated and hardworking workforce. The reward in question does not have to necessarily be monetary. This could be a simple gesture of appreciation as well.
For those businesses that are adamant to thrive, it is very important to define an agenda for themselves- that the company stands for and what your long-term goals are. A clearly defined vision is very important for an ideal working environment since it almost acts as a compass. It is also of significant importance to determine the role of each employee as well as their individual contribution to the big picture.
It is important to talk about transparency in leadership again. This is because it is really important to make sure that the leaders are accessible, accommodating and carry out an open conversation with their staff. The staff must know about the company vision and the goals for the upcoming months (at least). There must be no back talking and everyone must be able to deliver his ideas with freedom. Politics must be reduced to a minimum and equality among the workers must be practiced.
Soft skills, on the other hand, revolve around interpersonal skills that affect the morale of the organization. Organizations that focus on development have clear aims of training new employees and re-training old ones to enhance the productivity of the whole unit in the long run.
The two types of skills: hard and soft skills have a direct impact on the productivity of the place. With the changing trends and working style, it is important to have information and updates about it (hard skills). For instance, social media services revolve around social media marketing and the trends keep on changing every now and then. What professionals there do is that they train their subordinates accordingly so that their firm can excel.
Every workplace must have a supportive environment for the novices. Stress should be laid on their training and they must be nurtured by the best of the best business experts.
Fresh graduates always lack training in the practical field. No matter how many internships they enroll their names into unless they do some field work, they aren’t going to learn the true practicalities and functionalities of their work.
Constructive feedback from managers can also be of great assistance for the worker and can boost their morale and self-esteem. Thus, another thing that the work environment must have is the support for innovation and creativity. In order to promote out of the box thinking, it is important to trust your employees. Research claims that 90% of workers value honesty, trust and fairness in workplace relationships and these can be fostered through proactively maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships between managers and workers as well as regular, consistent communication. By boosting mutual feelings of trust, a culture of creativity can be effectively fostered.
In a time of rapid advancements and competitive changes, it is indispensable for organizations to keep up, retain flexibility and train workers accordingly. Technology is evolving with unparalleled haste in today’s day and age which means that most methods used a decade ago could now be obsolete. This proves that adaptability is crucial for businesses in this era.
A business cannot succeed without creativity culture. Workers value an office environment where they can get a chance to learn, thrive and compete. Only then, will it be possible to cross the limiting barriers, show their creative skills and reach the next level in their career?
You need to make sure that the workers are engaged in their work as an engaged employee is more useful to the business industry. A Dale Carnegie Training’s Infographic on engaged employees says that companies which have engaged employees outperform those with disengaged ones by 202%. It’s a huge number, isn’t it?
He/she is the one who has to maintain a strong team spirit and create an atmosphere of unity and justice. However, leading a project doesn’t give you the right to rule another human being. It requires being humble, polite and firm at the same time.
With many employees working together, someone has to take a more authoritative stand and step forward with all the strategies and plans.
The officers and heads of different departments form a part of the environment and this is why it is necessary that they have leadership qualities.
A passionate worker from the social media agency UAE offered his views in this regard as well. He was in favor of an environment where everyone would be able to meet in the middle. Keeping in mind all the views of different employees working in different industrial sectors.
Grant Butrum, a dedicated employee, once said, “I could go on and on about my work environment but at the end of the day, the most important thing that I notice is that people work hard and enjoy their job when they work for a company that genuinely cares for their employees. You can’t ask for a better environment!”
For a business to succeed in the global market, it is necessary that the working team maintains harmony in the workplace. While working, the foremost thing that affects the productivity of the personnel and the efficiency of the workflow is the office environment. The workers have to spend more than one-quarter of their day devoted to working in order to increase the sales and return on investment of the business. This calls for an ideal working environment.
These are some of the things which you can include in your answer so that the recruiter understands very well that you are someone who knows exactly what you want. Those who have no real experience in the business world will answer this question by only referring to the physical environment in the office. This question includes a lot of different points which you ought to keep in mind. If your answers during an interview appear incomplete and very off point then it is obvious that the company will not hire you onboard. Companies long to hire those people who are able to look at things in an objective and holistic manner.
An ideal working environment is one where there are no distractions. It is an environment which is conducive to work. In addition to this, there should be proper food and drink provided so that when working hard the employee’s health does not suffer in any way. Having a balanced diet is something which is very important.
When you are asked this question be sure to state that an ideal working environment is one where all the employees are given praise when it is due to them. No one constantly tries to put them down just for a tiny mistake which they might have made when getting a job done. After all, we are just human beings and not gods. Making mistakes is something which is natural.
An interview is where you have to really show all that you have to offer. If you are unable to put your best foot forward then a good job opportunity will slip through your hands. On being asked this question state that an ideal working environment is one where people are ever willing to help you if you are in trouble. They assist you whenever you are feeling low or down. It is the job of company’s boss to ensure his company runs as a well-oiled machine.
An ideal working environment is most obviously one where all the employees work unanimously as a team. No one is trying to get ahead, by putting the next one down. It is rather unfortunate that the business world is rather famous for being cutthroat. State in your answer that though you are someone who would love to get ahead and be successful in your career, you would never consider even for a moment doing something like this. You would consider a working environment as ideal if everyone was secure in their own position and work collectively for the good of the company.
The moment employees understand that promotions are being given based on favoritism then that is the thing which is going to make them feel betrayed. When you are asked this question by the recruiter state that you believe an ideal working environment is one where merit is rewarded at all times. There is no discriminated on the basis of caste creed or sex. Saying this will really show you to be someone who is very clear-sighted and morally righteous.
All employees have the dream of getting ahead in the company which they are working for. As long as promotions are carried out in free and fair manner employees do not feel bad.
Once the employees are aware of the fact that such corruption is taking place behind closed doors it is unlikely that they will be feeling like giving their best towards the company. State in your answer that you are someone who values honesty and integrity above everything else and it is for this reason that you consider an ideal working environment one where there is no corruption of any kind.
It is very unfortunate that nowadays most companies are very closed about what they are doing. It is because of this lack of transparency where corruption is on the rampant.
Once asked this question you should state that you believe an ideal working environment is one where the seniors are very helpful and supportive to the newcomers. No employee whether young or old should be made to feel inferior in any manner. State that you are someone who would be always willing to help a fresher if you were in a position of advantage.
There are many companies where the seniors simply refuse to help the newcomers, this is mainly because they want to establish their superiority and secondly because they fear that the newcomers will get better than them and replace them in the time to come.
Workplace violence is something which is more common than you might think. There are many employees especially women who often feel very threatened and worried when they walk into their place of work. Due to the fear playing on these victims minds they are unable to bring out the best in themselves. When the person taking your interviewer asks you this question, state that an ideal working environment is one where no one has any kind of fear playing on their mind. A working environment should be well guarded by armed securities, who know exactly what to do when trouble of any kind breaks out.
People who are brimming with new ideas and dreams never have time for such pettiness. So when the recruiter of the companies asks you such a question in the course of your interview, do state that an ideal working environment is one where people are constantly so preoccupied with their work and projects at hand that they never sit around ideally gossiping about people who they don’t like. State boldly that you are someone who never indulges in things like this because you find it very low.
An environment where there is no unnecessary gossip. It is often said that only people who are silly and very narrow-minded indulge in gossip.
Unhealthy workplace politics makes some meek people feel both vulnerable and insecure.
On being asked this question you should surely make a mention of the fact that an ideal working environment for you is one where there is certainly healthy competition. After all healthy competition makes people rise to the occasion and bring out the best in themselves.
In any office whether small or big, there is always some extent of workplace politics. In some companies, the workplace politics is of a positive kind but in other companies, the workplace politics is a very unhealthy and bad kind.
There are many companies which try and curb the creativity of the employees by telling them to always go by the books, yet a company which has an ideal working environment will not instill such fear in the minds of those who are working under them. Employees should be taught that failure is something which is a part of life which cannot be run away from.
When you are asked this question pertaining to an ideal working environment, do make it a point to state that an ideal working environment is one where the employees are given the freedom to think outside the box without having any kind of fear in mind.
If a working atmosphere is very repulsive and negative then employees are never going to feel like doing the best they can do. All employees should be adequately rewarded when they happen to do a task well. If the employees are never given bonuses or incentives then they will see no need to push the boundaries and excel at every task which is handed to them.
An ideal work environment extends beyond physical things like comfortable chairs and air-conditioning. It is an environment where there is a lot of positivity and employees are really encouraged at all points in time.
Believe it or not, having the right kind of light is very important in the workplace. If the office is poorly lit up then chances are that the employees too are likely to feel very restless and sleepy.
Good companies are those where the manager is able to enforce strict discipline so that no one thinks it is alright to shout or talk loudly.
Good quality work is never produced in an atmosphere or environment of noise or chaos. All individuals need to function in a calm and stress-free manner in order to bring out the best in themselves. So the candidate must answer by saying that an ideal working environment is one which is quiet and peaceful so that the employees are really able to get in touch with their inner thoughts as well as feelings.
It is no secret that we are living in a technological age and if companies do not keep up with the changing times it is unlikely that they will be able to compete properly with other leading businesses. So in the course of your answer, do mention that an ideal working environment is one where there is proper infrastructure available for the employees so that they are able to do all their work in a proper and time efficient manner.
If a boss of a company wants his company to do well and flourish, it is very important that he should be willing to spend some of the company profits on technology.
No individual likes working in an environment which is dirty and unhygienic. Keeping the office clean is not merely the responsibility of the cleaning staff, but it is the responsibility of everyone working in the company as well. Saying this will really leave a good impression in the mind of the person taking your interview.
When you are asked this question in the course of an interview, it is very important that at the start of your answer you talk about the physical aspect of things. You must begin by stating an ideal work environment is one which is kept clean and tidy.
An ideal working environment is one where the surroundings are neat and tidy.
Many people think that drawing a big salary is all that is needed for job satisfaction but this is something which is completely wrong. In order to produce quality work in the office having an ideal working environment is very important indeed.
Finding the perfect working environment is never easy at all.
When employees fulfill their various needs and goals in life, such as those of family, friends, spiritual pursuits, self-growth, etc, they can then feel more confident about themselves and perform their best at work. Apart from that, employees that are exposed to more experiences in life outside of work can use what they’ve gained and apply that to their work.
This is when employees will not be afraid to suggest ideas to improve the work processes, thus benefiting everyone in the organization in return.
This is when employees will not be afraid to suggest ideas to improve the work processes, thus benefiting everyone in the organization in return.
Everyone becomes more united with the organization’s mission in their mind. There is mutual respect among all employees, regardless of their official statuses.
At the end of it all, it promotes trust in day-to-day interactions between co-workers, as well as between subordinates and supervisors.
Such two-way open communication will eventually break down the hurdles present in hierarchical or bureaucratic organizations. At the end of it all, it promotes trust in day-to-day interactions between co-workers, as well as between subordinates and supervisors.
It is thus essential for staff to discuss the organization’s philosophy, mission and values, from time to time during retreats, meetings, etc to ensure that everyone knows what they’re working for other than their paychecks. Having open discussions get people involved and allow them to share their views and perspectives on how to achieve company goals. After which, the management side will give their own perspectives on how to fulfill the organization’s mission.
Due to the job variety available in the marketplace, this article is probably a little generic and may not apply to all types of jobs. However, these qualities are much valued by employees and employers in most jobs. I would say that they are pretty universal in that sense, except in a few exceptional cases.
If you’re looking for a new job, then I would say that assessing the work environment is a crucial step you shouldn’t skip. After all, this is the place you might be working at in future and you wouldn’t want to be dragging yourself to work every single morning!
A positive work environment makes employees feel good about coming to work, and this provides the motivation to sustain them throughout the day.
Aside from the job scope itself, one factor that significantly influences how employees feel about work is the environment. By work environment, I mean everything that forms part of employees’ involvement with the work itself, such as the relationship with co-workers and supervisors, organizational culture, room for personal development, etc.
Employees shouldn’t be the only ones being evaluated. Managers should be open to feedback as well, said Samantha Lambert, director of human resources at Blue Fountain Media.
This means offering employees specific feedback on how their work is feeding into the broader business objectives, she noted.
Employees are motivated and feel valued when they’re given positive reinforcement and shown how their work contributes to the success of the business,” said Dominique Jones, former chief people officer at Halogen Software.
Be cognizant of how you’re interacting with employees. Team members and upper management should focus on their communication methods and the effects they have on the office environment.
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 of user feedback platform UsersThink. He suggested getting rid of the “same-issued everything” and giving everyone a budget to customize their own setup.
Make it easy for workers to purchase things like exercise balls and plants on the company dime, said AJ Shankar, CEO, and founder of litigation software company Everlaw. We also trust our employees to manage their own time. They’re free to take breaks to play games or just recharge as necessary.
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.”
Give your employees the flexibility to choose to work where they’re comfortable, including comfy chairs or a choice of whether to sit or stand at their desks.
“Even if the sun can’t 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.
Working in a clean, attractive office can have tremendous effects on co-workers and manager relationships, said Mike Canarelli, CEO, and co-founder of Web Talent Marketing.
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 a meeting or break rooms, use warmer tones to promote calmness and relaxation. In conference rooms, use middle tones that welcome workers while keeping them alert.
If it’s not possible to incorporate natural lighting through windows, there are other options.
An article by MBA@UNC, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler’s 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.
Lighting plays a vital role in workers’ performance and attitude.
I can’t tell you how many times I have been thanked for letting poisonous employees go. Though it’s 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
It’s amazing to watch one bad attitude affect everyone’s daily performance,” said Claire Marshall Crowell, the chief operating officer of A. Marshall Family Foods/Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant.
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.
Make sure employees are professional and team players.
Smart businesses know that a good work environment starts with hiring the right people.
Creating a productive work environment is critical to the overall success of your company.
If employees work in a dreary office setting with unfriendly workers, they likely won’t feel motivated or confident to speak up.
If employees work in a dreary office setting with unfriendly workers, they likely won’t feel motivated or confident to speak up. That’s why creating a productive work environment is critical to the overall success of your company.
Your work environment impacts your mood, drive, and performance.
If you have gone on even one job interview it is likely you have heard questions that ask you to describe your strengths and weaknesses and where you expect to see yourself in five years’ time. Another common question is “What would be your ideal working environment?” It is one of the ways in which interviewers can determine how compatible you are for the position and company. Compatibility is critically important; an employee who fits in is likely to be happier and more productive and so will everyone else.
The company must maintain the cleanliness of the workplace for the benefit of all.
Flexibility adds to a better output of the organization. They should be encouraged for creativity and appreciated for providing new ideas. Even extra team building activities such as sports and events can bring a break to the monotony of a 9-5 job!
An ideal office environment should encourage new ideas.
The company should ensure hygiene and good health of the employees.
Employees would be adversely affected by dirty and unsanitary conditions.
The office surroundings should be clean and free from bad odor.
If there is a negative atmosphere, professionals would hate coming to work every day. Add some paintings and informative charts to cover the boring, lifeless walls. Even fish tanks with beautiful lights are eye-catchy. These ideas can make an office more welcoming.
MNCs have attractive interiors to set up a comfortable work environment. So, good interior and cleanliness are essentials for a good office.
You go to work and see that the desk has a dim light, unclean chair, broken or an old drawer. What would you feel? The company is at loss or not updated. The standard of a company is well described by the interiors it has.
The liberty to work independently under proper instructions constitute the ideal work environment.
Interference from supervisors or restrictions can affect the comfort level of any employee.
When it comes to comfort levels of an employee, offices that provide a comfortable and private place to work sounds just perfect!
A friendly environment can make any boring or strict office a happier place to work in for hours.
Few organizations also allow employees to bring their pets to the office.
Employees are encouraged to work harder when they have a good relationship with their employers. Few organizations also allow employees to bring their pets to the office. A friendly environment can make any boring or strict office a happier place to work in for hours.
It is proved that people work better when they have a friendly ambiance at the office.
Every person would like to work with people who are friendly, respectable and cooperative.
Opinion can differ from person to person. Good workplace with proper facilities can encourage the employee to work with interest. There are few simple factors that would make any office a better place to work.
A healthy environment at the office is ideal for employees and it also marks the growth of the company.
To assist in creating the quiet needed for real concentration and work, a degree of white noise can be helpful. Air filters and low fans will operate at a quiet speed to muffle other noises.
No one can work effectively in a sea of noise or interruptions. When planning your office area, ensure that it affords a degree of privacy from surrounding activities. While headphones may serve to isolate certain sounds, no one wants to be forced to wear headphones all the time. Portable screens can be used to shield the work area from nearby activities. Alternatively, divider walls that double as bookcases will not only divide the area but provide superior storage solutions.
Energy guidelines are leading to new reduced-light levels in offices that are easier on the eyes. The most critical factor in lighting is the ability to control its brightness and intensity.
To avoid glare, don’t place overhead lighting directly above computer screens, and don’t put a computer screen directly in front of a light source. That will cause eyestrain.
The most effective lighting brings out the fullest quality of the colors illuminated. If lighting levels are too low, there can be negative psychological effects, including depression. For human comfort, a yellow-cast illumination is best. It is the color of brightness, and midway through the color progression from cool to warm.
If no daylight is available, a combination of general and task lighting will be required. A high-quality task light will be essential for late nights or cloudy days. If your home office is in a basement or a room without windows, check out daylight-replicating light sources that will provide energy-efficient, full-spectrum lighting. Many ergonomic task-lighting fixtures have dimmer switches so you can control the amount of light.
The color of natural light also differs based on geographic location. It is always beneficial to have as much natural light as possible in the working area.
If your space has a window, it will enhance the lighting. Daylight is the most evenly balanced source of white light available, in that sunlight has an approximately equal proportion of each color of the spectrum. This light, however, never has a constant color and its beauty comes from the way it is reflected and from the way it is refracted by the earth (as in differing times of day).
Good lighting is essential. Ideally, you want as much natural daylight as possible.
Don’t forget insurance on that equipment. Affordable policies will insure your home office equipment in the event of a loss or disaster. You’ll want this peace of mind. Many insurance companies offer special coverage for home workers.
Be sure you invest in the fastest equipment available, so you don’t spend your time waiting for things to work.
Be sure you have a local and responsive computer support team that will make home service calls promptly. You need to know you can rely on the equipment you have to work.
You’ll want a separate phone line to your office so no business associate or client gets a busy signal. Also, make sure your phone has the capability for messaging, conferencing and speaker functions.
Investigate a wireless hub for your office so you have the flexibility to work on your laptop from your desk, your chair or a table, and at both standing and sitting heights. This simple option can enhance your creative problem-solving and thinking ability.
Speed and efficiency are critical at home. But make careful decisions. The question whether that large color copier is a real necessity or if a trip to the neighborhood Kinkos will suffice. Don’t pay for equipment you won’t use on a daily basis.
Set up an established outline of time that you know you will spend in your office. That will help you develop a plan for productivity.
Compartmentalizing your day into identifiable segments will help.
The biggest problem of home workers have is the loss of distinction between work life and home life.
Scheduling your working hours contributes to your life balance, and should also help you be more productive and organize your day.
Establish set hours for your work at home.
You will also want to keep the non-office space in your home free of work items. This promotes healthy balance and allows you to relax at home when you are not at work.
Keep all of your work in that space because it’s important that you be able to find things, retrieve things and be efficient in this space.
You might be able to convert the guest room you only use a few times a year or another underutilized area into your office. Evaluate how the space you find can be dedicated for your use and can be “your space.”
Where are you going to put your office? It doesn’t need to be large or expansive, but it should be separate from other areas.
The answers to these questions will begin to develop the program for your home office. The next step is setting up your space.
A distinction has to be made regarding the physical boundaries of this working space.
You have to find a way to separate yourself from the rest of the goings-on in the home and to convey a sense of “off limits” to all other normal and natural home sounds and interruptions.
While comfort is essential in any office, an office that is too casual may seriously impede the ability to get things done.
Working from home is exciting because it offers an opportunity for real comfort and efficiency, but if the office is too casual, or isn’t effectively separated from the home environment, peak productivity may be lost.
If you want to know if your candidates have this trait, ask a simple question in the interview such as, “Why should we hire you?”. This way they have to sell themselves in a persuasive manner while listing qualities, traits, and reasons—a perfect, practical test of their customer service skills.
It’s not always about being a manipulator, but being able to steer the customer in a direction that is beneficial for both the company and the client.
A great customer service employee will also have some amazing marketing and sales skills.
Zendesk Chat also shares some creative ways in which you can deal with difficult clients and complaints while remaining helpful and calm.
A conscientious customer service agent will be better equipped to pick up the clues interlaced in the customer’s words, which will allow them to resolve pain points.
When customers call a company they’re actively seeking help in resolving a problem.
They have a strong intuition about what is morally right and wrong as well as how to treat others.
To a degree, conscientious individuals are “pleasers” in the sense that they are aware of what works for certain people and what doesn’t.
The Journal of Applied Social Psychology noted that “[individuals] who are identified through tests as highly conscientious are more likely to be aware of how good interpersonal interactions positively affect customer service – and are more likely to behave this way”.
Conscientious individuals are reliable, disciplined, methodical, organized, and goal driven.
Look for candidates who are highly conscientious. The candidate that arrives late for the interview, looking completely flustered and confused is probably not the ideal choice.
In customer service, nothing is perfect and things will go wrong. This is not a failure. The best businesses show how they fix their mistakes.
It is ideal for customer service reps to be either the Artisan or Guardian type since they are known for being stable and conscientious, as well as pleasant to talk to and great at problem-solving.
In combination with a problem-solving nature, the candidate should also be a great listener in order to gather “clues” and read between the lines during communication.
Customer service employees must be able to provide a solution even before the customer poses the question (within reason, of course).
One of the great customer service skills is the ability to take a preemptive approach to managing possible risks and being prepared when a problem does arise.
Companies that excel at customer service don’t wait for a problem to arise before addressing it.
Patience and politeness allow the customer service rep to project their voice, tone, and brand without sounding rude or agitated. They will also be able to solve complex customer problems without losing their cool.
Being able to maintain a positive outlook despite the daily churn can help negate the negative effects of customer servicing.
Positivity is important because dealing with customer issues day after day can strain an employee’s mental health.
When reading through your prospective employee’s resumé, look for keywords in their testimonials such as “works well with others” and “maintains a positive attitude”.
The HR team, or the person conducting the interview, should also know how to decipher a resumé in order to find the right match. When reading through your prospective employee’s resumé, look for keywords in their testimonials such as “works well with others” and “maintains a positive attitude”.
These are the basics of satisfying the needs of both the client and the company. If you neglect these details while hiring, you might find yourself attempting to convert a hot-headed, negative individual into a suitable member of your customer support team.
The perfect customer service employees have a positive attitude, are patient with customers, and are polite to all.
Although most companies have a limited customer service budget, finding the ideal employee has taken precedence over lowering costs in recent years.
They are likely trying their best to protect the company’s image even in the presence of the most difficult customers.
A loyal customer care representative will put the company’s interest first when dealing with difficult customers.
There might be some underlying unhappiness, but a potential employee that speaks highly of their previous company despite having left is one that is both respectful and loyal.
When interviewing a candidate, pay attention to what they say about the previous companies they’ve worked for.
It might sound rather straightforward, but happiness and satisfaction within a company will inevitably lead to loyalty.
Author Alexander Kjerulf says, “Happy employees make the customers happy”.
What customer service qualities make these individuals different? Besides possessing the right customer service skills, what are the traits that make them the ideal candidates when dealing with other people’s problems?
Perfection doesn’t exist but some people just happen to possess the characteristics that make them more suited for the role of customer support agent, while others don’t have the traits of a good employee.
A top organization practices strong core values based on integrity. These values need to be more than words in a human resources manual; management personnel should practice these values in daily functions and require all employees to do the same.
Workers in a top organization have easy access to the resources they need to complete their tasks. Whenever possible, educational resources are also available to help workers develop their skills so they can become even more valuable to the organization.
Employees feel that they are part of a group of superior people who are pulling together for the common good.
A great workplace contains an atmosphere that evokes a strong sense of community throughout the entire organization, not just within smaller team units.
The purpose of the feedback is to help employees identify and understand areas of needed improvement as opposed to chastising them for mistakes.
Supervisors in a great workplace offer frequent and constructive feedback to employees.
To encourage open communication, ask your supervisors to make themselves visible instead of remaining behind a closed office door for the entire day or put out regular newsletters to keep employees abreast of the latest company developments.
When you communicate with your employees, you gain valuable insights regarding the work atmosphere, such as learning about small problems before they can escalate.
A small business flourishes when management fosters an atmosphere of open communication.
Your employees are an excellent resource for innovative ideas, so be sure to seek their input and reward them for their creativity.
Innovation allows you to stay one step ahead of the competition and prevent product or service stagnation.
A major factor in the success of your business is your ability to innovate.
The rules are enforced in the same manner for all workers, from rank-and-file members to top management, without the appearance of favoritism or provision of special privileges.
The best organization is one that treats every employee fairly.
The idea behind this autonomy is that the more freedom and input the worker has in performing her job, the greater meaning it will have to her, which increases her motivation to do the job well.
Great small businesses permit their workers a great deal of autonomy regarding how they perform specific job tasks.
Great small business owners and managers have the ability to blend the individual talents of their staff members into a team concept.
A great organization stresses teamwork while still encouraging individual achievement and creativity.
Employees have a clear understanding of this purpose and are enlightened by management staff as to how their roles help to achieve the company’s mission.
A great workplace has a clear and specific purpose for existing which is captured in its mission statement.
Situations such as dissension, poor communication, and general dysfunction occur frequently. Great small business workplaces are those that exhibit a number of key characteristics.
Many companies claim to be great places to work, but employees may often find that the wonderful workplace they heard about during the job interview process doesn’t always live up to their expectations.
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There’s plenty of competition for jobs at top companies.
The organization is environmentally-aware by encouraging solar power and recycling.
The office itself features natural and recessed lighting with incandescent bulbs rather than halogen or fluorescent.
The company offers reimbursement for childcare and/or on-site childcare.
The corporate cafeteria features a low-fat menu, and the company gym is stocked with exercise equipment.
The company offers comprehensive health insurance, with weight-loss, smoking-cessation, and substance-abuse programs.
Genuine compliments, rewards, bonuses, raises, promotions, and certificates of achievement are oil in the machinery. The company thanks, employees regularly in these ways.
People need acknowledgment, appreciation, and gratitude to be motivated.
They know if they don’t, the business will end up a dinosaur. As the saying goes, “Change is the only constant.”
The company and its employees embrace change, accommodate new trends and technology, and incorporate new skills.
People will usually go the extra mile for others when they’re treated well and with understanding, compassion, and respect.
Kindness and understanding prevail when employees face challenges such as accidents, illnesses, personal tragedies, and natural disasters.
Laughter generates endorphins, our natural antidepressants.
Employees keep things in perspective, have fun, and laugh.
Healthy competition exists without vengeful, spiteful backstabbing.
Employees have a sense of camaraderie, cooperation, and empowerment.
Can do, go the extra mile and win-win attitudes are evident.
Everyone communicates in cards on the table manner, solving difficulties in a positive way. They don’t play nasty revenge games when given difficult feedback. Instead, they view feedback as an opportunity for growth.
They take responsibility for their actions and decisions.
Employees give 200%. They strive to be the best and to deliver top-quality products and services.
Signs of fear, domination, bullying, sexual harassment, and intimidation are absent. Creativity, productivity, and thinking outside the box flourish.
People enjoy coming to work and feel appreciated, acknowledged and rewarded.
The company sets out to achieve its goals in ethical, honest ways with an elevated sense of purpose to improving the planet and humanity.
A positive mission statement outlines the goals and demonstrative behavior that exemplify the highest commitment to quality and service to each other, the company, customers, and shareholders.
Positive workplaces tend to exhibit a common set of traits that foster excellence, productivity, and camaraderie.
He has to face difficult situations very tactfully and must have pleasing manners always in dealing with critical positions and in suggesting suitable ideas. He must be tactful.
He organizes and supervises the office correspondence, messenger services, communication system, filing and indexing, protection of records etc. There is no hard and fast rule as to the functions of an office manager. His functions depend upon the type and size of the organization.
He maintains statutory and accounts books, hold meetings, drafts reports and minutes etc. Thus he does the secretary’s functions.
He maintains statutory and accounts books, hold meetings, drafts reports and minutes etc. Thus he does the secretary’s functions.
He has to safeguard the furniture, fittings, machines, equipment and various types of records.
He has to keep a close touch with the accounting and costing section.
Discipline in the office depends upon him. The rules and principles of the management should be followed by the subordinates. He must have the ability to speak. New methods cannot be accepted unless the full explanation is followed. He has to convince others about the factual findings.
He measures the employees’ work and output and offers rewards which increase their efficiency and ensure their better co-operation and lead to the promotion of the staff.
He provides training to the new employees as well as old employees to improve their skill in the latest techniques of management.
He has to select the right person for the right job. For that, he invites applications, conducts interviews and selects personnel.
Office Manager primary duty is to the management and secondary duty to the workers. He must please both the parties. If either one of the parties is annoyed or neglected, he will be regarded as a bad manager.
Office Manager primary duty is to the management and secondary duty to the workers.
He has to work and safeguard the firm, where he is an office manager.
If Office Manager is not able to do the needful, he must place it before the management.
Workers approach Office Managers for their grievances and difficulties and manager has to redress them. If he is not able to do the needful, he must place it before the management.
Office Manager is the connecting link between the top management and the workers.
Office Manager will have to work and carefully see that the policies laid down by the management are implemented.
Office Manager has to select the right persons for the right jobs.
The Office Manager has complete control over the work done in the office.
The Office Manager helps other departments to achieve their goals.
The Office Manager is the one who is in charge of the public relations. He helps other departments to achieve their goals. He has complete control over the work done in the office.
The office manager is important for the smooth running of the organization.
The office manager is important for the smooth running of the organization. He is in charge of the public relations. He helps other departments to achieve their goals. He has complete control over the work done in the office.
He has to control his office.
He must be constantly in touch with the new facts and methods to increase the efficiency.
He should not be irritable.
He should have self-control.
He must be calm and confident in all situations.
He must have the ability to delegate the job and work to his staff according to the abilities of the workers.
He must be able to create team spirit.
He must be a good leader.
He must be sincere to do his duties.
He must be tactful and skillful in his dealings.
He must have an ability to teach others.
He must have a good command of the language.
The qualifications are based on the job he does.
There is no hard and fast rule as to the minimum qualifications to be possessed.
In addition to general education, a manager must have undergone management training.
He brings the human resource or human talent of a firm in combination with non-human resources viz. money, materials, and machine.
The manager plans organize, directs and controls the activities of his subordinates in the organization. He brings the human resource or human talent of a firm in combination with non-human resources viz. money, materials, and machine.
The job of the office manager is to control the activities in the office so as to get the maximum benefit out of them.
It is already seen that the office work is a function of service.
New employees need to meet the appropriate people who are setting the expectations for the company’s culture.
If negativity about supervision and the company is widespread and complained about by employees, a culture of negativity, that is difficult to overcome, will take hold.
If doors are open, and few closed-door meetings are held, the culture is unguarded.
If many artifacts depicting the company’s history and values are in evidence throughout the company, people value their history and culture.
If most of the people in an organization are very outgoing, the culture is likely to be open and sociable.
People Shape the Culture. Personalities and experiences of employees create the culture of an organization.
This is often how subcultures are formed, as people get social rewards from coworkers or have their most important needs met in their departments or project teams.
Sometimes employees value rewards that are not associated with the behaviors desired by managers for the overall company.
Sub-cultures Form Through Rewards. Employees have many different wants and needs.
This fails to serve the continuity a consciously created culture requires.
If this interaction doesn’t take place, the new employee forms his or her own idea of the culture, often in interaction with other new employees.
The culture that a new employee experiences and learns can be consciously shaped by managers, executives, and co-workers. Through your conversations with the new employee, you can communicate the elements of the culture you’d like to see continued.
An initial opinion of your culture can be formed as early as the first phone call from the Human Resources department.
An applicant experiences a sense of your culture, and he or she fit within your culture, during the interview process.
Most behaviors and rewards in organizations involve other employees.
Culture is Learned Through Interaction. Employees learn culture by interacting with other employees.
An applicant experiences a sense of your culture, and his or she fit within your culture, during the interview process. An initial opinion of your culture can be formed as early as the first phone call from the Human Resources department.
Most behaviors and rewards in organizations involve other employees.
Employees learn culture by interacting with other employees.
Culture is Learned Through Interaction.
A simple thank you from an executive for work performed in a particular manner, molds the culture.
When a behavior is rewarded, it is repeated and the association eventually becomes part of the culture.
Culture is Learned. People learn to perform certain behaviors through either the rewards or negative consequences that follow their behavior.
Tolerating poor performance or exhibiting a lack of discipline to maintain established processes and systems will impede your success.
A norm of spectacular customer service will sell your products and engage your employees.
A norm of accountability will help make your organization successful.
Culture is not usually defined as good or bad, although aspects of your culture likely support your progress and success and other aspects impede your progress.
Culture is a word used to describe the behaviors that represent the general operating norms in your environment.
Central Concepts of Culture, professors Ken Thompson (DePaul University) and Fred Luthans (University of Nebraska) highlight the following seven characteristics of culture through this interpretive lens.
Your internet sharing in programs like Skype and Slack, your bulletin board content, the company newsletter, the interaction of employees in meetings, and the way in which people collaborate, speak volumes about your organizational culture.
Something as simple as the objects chosen to grace a desk tells you a lot about how employees view and participate in your organization’s culture.
Every employee has an impact on the culture that is developed at work.
Culture is especially influenced by the organization’s founder, executives, and other managerial staff because of their role in decision making and strategic direction.
Culture is the behavior that results when a group arrives at a set of generally unspoken and unwritten rules for working together.
Culture is made up of the values, beliefs, underlying assumptions, attitudes, and behaviors shared by a group of people.
In many ways, culture is like personality. In a person, the personality is made up of the values, beliefs, underlying assumptions, interests, experiences, upbringing, and habits that create a person’s behavior.
Culture is something that you cannot actually see, except through its physical manifestations in your workplace.
Culture is a powerful element that shapes your work enjoyment, your work relationships, and your work processes.
He just feels right. Culture is the environment that surrounds you at work all of the time
Culture is difficult to define, but you generally know when you have found an employee who appears to fit your culture.
One of the key questions and assessments, when employers interview a prospective employee, explores whether the candidate is a good cultural fit.
Your environment that you provide for employees at work
Culture must be your environment for people at work.
Employers must be intentional about creating a positive work environment for their employees.
Acknowledging team performance is important but managers must appreciate the individual performance.
Managers must learn to appreciate their team members verbally for outstanding performance.
A verbal recognition from the manager or supervisor is good enough in some situations.
Monetary rewards are good but not the only way to reward effort.
When employers fail to recognize such efforts, employees start giving excuses for poor performance.
Rewarding such efforts encourages employees to do more in the future.
Some go an extra mile and work for unpaid hours to ensure that their work is perfectly done on time.
Employers work hard to complete their tasks within the given deadlines.
Rewards and recognition for high-performance employees can create a positive work environment by recognizing the efforts of employees to improve their performance.
Some employees understand the importance of balancing their work with their personal life.
The managers and supervisors have a responsibility of training employees on the benefits of work-life balance.
Employees may be willing to work extra hours every day to earn a promotion or salary increment.
An ideal work environment should train and motivate employees to live a balanced life.
Work-life balance, employee often sacrifices their personal goals, needs, and interests to grow their careers.
Good relations among employees lead to higher levels of satisfaction and productivity.
Training employees on interpersonal skills, team building, conflict resolution and effective communication will improve their interactions.
The training program should include soft skills that can improve interactions and relationships within the organization.
Technology is always evolving. Training programs on how to use the latest technology are beneficial to your employees.
As an employer, you have a responsibility to prepare your staff for the changes in the industry.
When they can apply the skills and knowledge learned from such programs, their motivation and performance will improve.
If a company is prepared to invest time and money into training, their employees will feel rewarded and appreciated.
The best working environments have training and development programs for employees.
If your employees are motivated individual but stagnating in their role, they will likely look elsewhere.
Employees are ready to change jobs when their current jobs do not offer any new challenges or opportunities for progression.
The reality is that such talents will only stay in an organization if they have opportunities to grow in their career.
Training and development programs, employers dream of attracting and retaining the best talents in the job market.
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A more beneficial approach is to consider any ideas that may improve the company’s performance and incorporate these into the overall strategy.
Many employers focus on giving instructions to employees rather than adopting a more collaborative approach.
Two-way communication is important in an organization because it ensures that all parties are on the same page concerning the organization’s mission.
Employers must act on the issues and suggestions made, otherwise, employees will stop participating in discussions if the company does not value their opinions and contributions.
Employers must provide a platform for employees to express their opinions.
Listening to the issues and concerns that matter to employees is important in building good and trustworthy relationships with them.
Employees also require open and transparent channels of communicating with their supervisors and managers.
A boss that doesn’t lead by example will often find anarchy amongst the ranks.
Employees expect their leaders to not only communicate the company’s goals, objectives, strategies, and culture clearly, but also abide by them.
Effective communication between employers and employees
We can’t all be based in cheery Norwich. So how can you create a positive work environment for your employees?
Local Journalist Lauren Razavi says that Norwich is one of the few cities in the UK that still retains a strong identity and sense of community, people walk down the street and say hello to each other.
Norwich has been voted the number 1 happiest city to work in in the UK with a staggering 77% of people saying they love their jobs! So what makes Norwich so special? Offices? People? Businesses?
Unhappy employees are quick to take alternative jobs and even worse they can spread negativity and animosity amongst the rest of the team.
Employers understand that if employees are uncomfortable within the work environment, their motivation, satisfaction, and performance levels will be low.
If you work in a fast paced, target driven sales environment a person that struggles under pressure, may not necessarily fit the bill.
Employers are keen to ask new employees about the type of work environment that they prefer during interviews, this is to ascertain an interviewees suitability for the job.
The work environment includes a company’s location, facilities, culture, interactions between employees and employers, and growth opportunities, to name but a few.
Employees are enthusiastic about reporting to work every day if the work environment is a positive one.
The work environment has a significant effect on employee motivation, job satisfaction, and team morale.
I realized I was growing as an educator, artist, and environmentalist, but that I could have only so much of an impact as one individual.
I would love every American, and every global citizen, to ask two questions: Are you proud of your human impacts? And, whether you are or not, what actions will you take to support strong communities and a healthy environment?
What type of world do you want? Personally, I want my apple to be affordable and free of hazardous toxins; I want access to clean drinking water and I want communities in Brazil to have it too; I want city kids to know that ketchup is made from tomatoes that grow in dirt and country kids to know that good public transportation can mean an incredible amount of freedom.
In order to really think about the “state of the environment”, the first step is to look at the “state of our environment” from the trash on the street corner to the rates of asthma in our kids and the amount of cancer in our communities.
We’ve created an unnatural divide between nature and humans, environment and society.
One of the biggest mistakes we’ve made in the environmental movement has been to talk about “saving our planet” as opposed to “living healthy, happy lives”.
Our job is to help you take part in your own personal way.
Anyone can make a positive human impact, and everyone benefits from collective action.
Whether you’re a seasoned environmentalist, a newcomer to the movement, senior citizen, politician, corporate executive, community organizer, student, or none of these things, you have a stake in the health and functioning of our environment, and you play an important role in your community.
We inspire people to transform their behavior by making issues personal to their lives.
We go beyond doling out information in hope that people will change.
We believe our environment is not separate from our society, and those healthy communities, stable economies, and social equity cannot exist without environmental well-being.
Share innovative ways to stay involved and build a community of change-makers through our Curated Actions programs.
ACT and help you take action while broadening your knowledge through our Learning-by-Doing programs.
Inspire new audiences to engage in social and environmental solutions through our Creative Communication programs
We help people of diverse ages and backgrounds personally connect to the most pressing environmental issues of our times, and give them the tools needed to take positive, long-term actions.
We know there’s a gap between knowing, understanding and taking action.
We are action-oriented, and our passion is to help people make a difference, in their own unique way.
Our programs pair artists and scientists to engage new audiences in climate change solutions, bring youth to the boardroom and get policymakers’ hands dirty as they care for local street trees.
Social entrepreneurs who create and share innovative approaches to tackling social and environmental issues.
We envision a world in which communities from one to one million are active agents of social and environmental change.
Employers are keen to ask new employees about the type of work environment that they prefer during interviews, this is to ascertain an interviewees suitability for the job.
The work environment includes a company’s location, facilities, culture, interactions between employees and employers, and growth opportunities, to name but a few.
Employees are enthusiastic about reporting to work every day if the work environment is a positive one.
The work environment has a significant effect on employee motivation, job satisfaction, and team morale.
Employers must be intentional about creating a positive work environment for their employees.
Such an environment reduces employee turnover rates and builds a company’s reputation.
The tips outlined above will help you create such an environment in your business when you implement them consistently.
Employers are keen to ask new employees about the type of work environment that they prefer during interviews, this is to ascertain an interviewees suitability for the job.
Studies show that employees are 38 percent more likely to perform above average when they are highly engaged –and creating a positive work environment –can help workers to perform at their best.
A positive work environment may be more relevant than many people think. A positive work environment is important
A positive workplace environment, it seems, is a thing of the past –or is it?
Perhaps it is because the job workplace isn’t all that it should be. For many, work is stressful, overwhelming, and unsatisfying.
Employees expect their leaders to not only communicate the company’s goals, objectives, strategies, and culture clearly, but also abide by them.
if you work in a fast paced, target driven sales environment a person that struggles under pressure, may not necessarily fit the bill.
A positive work environment leads to higher levels of job satisfaction and motivation, which in turn improve employee performance.
Employees are ready to change jobs when their current jobs do not offer any new challenges or opportunities for progression.
The reality is that such talents will only stay in an organization if they have opportunities to grow in their career.
The reality is that such talents will only stay in an organization if they have opportunities to grow in their career.
employers dream of attracting and retaining the best talents in the job market.
best employers understand that if employees are uncomfortable within the work environment, their motivation, satisfaction, and performance levels will be low.
A more beneficial approach is to consider any ideas that may improve the company’s performance and incorporate these into the overall strategy.
many employers focus on giving instructions to employees rather than adopting a more collaborative approach.
Unhappy employees are quick to take alternative jobs and even worse they can spread negativity and animosity amongst the rest of the team.
Employers must provide a platform for employees to express their opinions.
Effective communication between employers and employees
Employees also require open and transparent channels of communicating with their supervisors and managers.
It is best that any guidelines, rules, and expectations are communicated straight away to avoid any bad habits forming.
Employees expect their leaders to not only communicate the company’s goals, objectives, strategies, and culture clearly, but also abide by them.
Listening to the issues and concerns that matter to employees is important in building good and trustworthy relationships with them.
employers must act on the issues and suggestions made, otherwise, employees will stop participating in discussions if the company does not value their opinions and contributions.
Two-way communication is important in an organization because it ensures that all parties are on the same page concerning the organization’s mission.
If your employees are motivated individual but stagnating in their role, they will likely look elsewhere.
The best working environments have training and development programs for employees.
If a company is prepared to invest time and money into training, their employees will feel rewarded and appreciated.
When they can apply the skills and knowledge learned from such programs, their motivation and performance will improve
As an employer, you have a responsibility to prepare your staff for the changes in the industry.
For instance, technology is always evolving. Training programs on how to use the latest technology are beneficial to your employees.
The training program should include soft skills that can improve interactions and relationships within the organization.
training employees on interpersonal skills, team building, conflict resolution and effective communication will improve their interactions.
Good relations among employees lead to higher levels of satisfaction and productivity.
Employees often sacrifice their personal goals, needs, and interests to grow their careers. An ideal work environment should train and motivate employees to live a balanced life.
Employees may be willing to work extra hours every day to earn a promotion or salary increment.
the managers and supervisors have a responsibility of training employees on the benefits of work-life balance.
Some employees understand the importance of balancing their work with their personal life.
they work for companies that allow them to take their annual leave and days off occasionally. Helping employees achieve the work-life balance improves their job satisfaction.
They have time to take care of other important aspects of their lives, like family, hobbies, and spiritual pursuits among others.
Employers can create a positive work environment by recognizing the efforts of employees to improve their performance.
Employers work hard to complete their tasks within the given deadlines.
Some go an extra mile and work for unpaid hours to ensure that their work is perfectly done on time.
Rewarding such efforts encourages employees to do more in the future.
when employers fail to recognize such efforts, employees start giving excuses for poor performance.
Monetary rewards are good but not the only way to reward effort
A verbal recognition from the manager or supervisor is good enough in some situations.
Managers must learn to appreciate their team members verbally for outstanding performance.
Acknowledging team performance is important but managers must appreciate the individual performance.
Our mission is to inspire you to transform environmental challenges into social action
for a just and livable world.
A confident employee is also more willing to take risks or go for challenges that an uncertain counterpart would shy from. Great outcomes come from people who have faith in their abilities and talents. If the candidate is someone who you would want to interact directly with a client(s), the latter two will be impressed by the person’s self-assuredness and therefore feel like continuing the business relationship with him/her and your company.
As a manager or a CxO in your startup, you would obviously be happier handing a project over to someone who’s confident over someone who’s hesitant and unsure of himself.
This is so that he does not alienate most of his co-workers in the march towards his ambition.
Your ambitious candidate should have a sensible amount of emotional intelligence within him.
They also strongly yearn to progress in their career. Ambition triggers openness, creative ideas, and a go-getter attitude, all of which are good for your company.
They will not shirk from putting in their best because they set goals and high expectations for themselves.
Ambitious employees are willing to go the extra mile whether to achieve company goals or make their way up the corporate ladder.
No need to put the whole emphasis on personality but do give it a heavyweight when picking the best from the pack.
With respect to a person’s basic character, things are not so easy.
When looking for the ideal employees to add to your existing workforce, remember that though knowledge is an asset, it can be taught.
Workers can lighten up at times in such a way that getting the job done is both satisfying and enjoyable.
Even if not every part of the job is enjoyable, a great workplace affords opportunities to have fun on the job.
Relationships often from inside and outside the workplace as employees learn to enjoy each other’s company.
A great workplace provides a healthy and enjoyable social environment in which co-workers often become friends, enjoying each other’s company and caring for each other’s well-being.
Workers are able to do their jobs efficiently without unnecessary struggles or safety hazards.
The best possible tools and equipment are available and maintained in good working condition at great workplaces.
From the top down, effective communication skills are held in high regard to help employees learn quickly, resolve difficulties, respect one another and introduce new ideas.
Clear, concise and consistent communication is vital at all levels of a great workplace.
All staff members are encouraged to guide and mentor co-workers.
Great companies encourage leadership among the workers.
The leaders in a great workplace serve as positive role models for the whole team, consistently walking the talk.
Employees feel empowered to bring ideas and new ways of operations to management. Workers given the freedom to be somewhat creative tend to take ownership of their work.
Any great workplace is open to positive change and encourages creativity and new ideas.
Hard work is recognized and rewarded at a great workplace.
The team and its productivity are more important than any individual’s input. Team members collaborate and celebrate their achievements, knowing that the work of the team outweighs individual needs.
In order to maximize productivity, teamwork and collaboration are top principles of any great workplace.
People who are enthusiastic and invested in getting the job done well tend to reflect that enthusiasm in their work product. Customers recognize and reward that energy, making the company more profitable as well.
A healthy and positive workplace strives to give its employees meaningful work.
The mission is obvious to employees, managers, and customers. Individuals know and accept their specific roles and responsibilities, even as they work towards a clear collective goal.
A great work environment has a clear vision and orientation.
A great workplace has many characteristics that make it a good experience for workers and managers at every level, and for the business as a whole.
Many businesses find that it is entirely worthwhile to expend effort on creating and maintaining an environment that is easy and pleasant to work in since productivity tends to go up.
Positive work atmospheres tend to be reflected in the quality of the work that’s done.
The above tips and suggestions for answering one of the most common interview questions should help you prepare for your next interview. Start today to brainstorm a list of top job interview questions and answers and personalize them to fit your style.
That’s why I am a good fit for this company, the business consistently comes up on lists of the best most understanding employers.
I’m huge on respecting others and listening to different ideas and opinions and it’s important that my colleagues give me the same opportunities.
Office layout does not matter too much to me. I do well in both open and closed layouts; as long as the attitude of diversity and respect is where I thrive.
I want an environment where everyone from the janitor to the CEO is treated with the same respect.
I’m a people person. I love people and my ideal work environment would be one filled with diverse and bright folks.
Humor is great too and when I read the description for this job everything fell into place.
I excel at shaping and executing marketing messages and few things are more thrilling than being able to get in at the ground floor to work with people who are just as passionate as I am about helping a business succeed.
It’s not that I don’t do well in large-thriving environments. In fact, I flourished at my last job. It’s just that I become really excited at the possibility of nurturing a business and helping it grow.
I enjoy working in small-business environments when I’m one of just a few people in the business.
Phrases such as “laid-back” and “fast-paced” are indicative of the company’s culture.
The job description is another important resource, it often gives hints if not outright statements about the work environment.
Conducting Internet research and speaking with current and former employers are two ways to find out about the company’s work environment.
Many people think that drawing a big salary is all that is needed for job satisfaction but this is something which is completely wrong.
Finding the perfect working environment is never easy at all.
If you do thrive in open and chaotic spaces, you should avoid giving that answer as your ideal work environment if the company you are interviewing with is slow-paced and simply does not have that type of physical office layout.
Make Your Answer Practical for the Company. For all top job interview questions and answers, the dialogue needs to show that you’ve researched the company and already have a good idea about how you match what the company has to offer.
Instead of focusing on physical environment attributes such as being able to talk to someone at the other end of the room, discuss thematic factors such as working in a quirky culture or among people who have offbeat senses of humor.
Perhaps it’s the team spirit or the attitude of the business, such as risk-taking that constitutes your ideal work environment.
You may do well with open and closed office plans alike or in both chaotic and structured spaces and layouts.
If you are like many people, though you may not have a top work environment preference.
Make Your Answer Thematic: If you thrive in chaos and open spaces, you ideally are applying for positions where you would work in environments that foster your success.
Before the interview, list what matters to you. In your answer- prioritize these considerations, explain why they matter to you, and outline how your ideal work environment makes you a good fit for the company.
For job interviews, you’re likely more focused on work environment considerations such as office versus cubicle, the pace of work, noise preferences, foot traffic/socialization preferences, work expectations, working independently versus collaborating, and so on.
A work environment is composed of many factors, some of which may be more important to you than others.
To best explain your ideal working environment, strategize your answer in advance. You should do this for all top job interview questions and answers, no matter the type of position you are interviewing for.
Likewise, asking what you most valued about the professional atmosphere at prior jobs is an alternate method of asking the same thing.
Other ways of posing the question include “What do you value most in company culture?” and “What did you most dislike about the work environment at previous jobs?”
Another common question is “What would be your ideal working environment?” It is one of the ways in which interviewers can determine how compatible you are for the position and company. Compatibility is critically important; an employee who fits in is likely to be happier and more productive and so will everyone else.
If you have gone on even one job interview, it is likely you have heard questions that ask you to describe your strengths and weaknesses and where you expect to see yourself in five years’ time.
Cafeteria, TT Table, Pool, Swimming Pool. Basically, a place where employees can relax for a while.
Long Working hours can be relaxed, work from home option.
A peaceful environment depends on person to person. But in my case, I don’t like to get interrupted. I would like to get wired into music. Disturbance and loud noise is a strict no. The workplace should be well lit and should generate positive energy.
Clear the distinction or roles, there should not be any confusion about anyone’s role. This will eventually lead to mismanagement if not followed, waste of time etc.
Ask why a problem keeps repeating itself or why something didn’t work. Open communication to help others learn and offer help.
Succeed and celebrate together, or fail and learn together. Celebrating a success is easy, but it’s failures that offer learning and personal growth.
Teach others to accept situations and move forward to ensure the situation doesn’t occur again.
To promote personal accountability, management must demonstrate it. Teach others to accept situations and move forward to ensure the situation doesn’t occur again.
People are usually kept busy dealing with the tasks at hand, so it’s up to management to ensure staff is keeping skills up-to-date.
Effective communication helps increase productivity.
Effective communication helps increase productivity.
If you can’t pay for the top talent, you need to rely on growth opportunities and a good benefits package.
This may seem like a tough task, but having the right people onboard is important.
There’s a good chance that you’re in the right place. But if it doesn’t have any signs of a positive workplace you may want to reconsider whether or not your current workplace is the right place for you. Ask yourself whether it’s time to start looking for another job –one that has a work environment that will leave you feeling satisfied, happy, and fulfilled.
The best employers know that when their workers don’t have to worry about their personal life, they’ll have higher job satisfaction and be more focused at work.
A job that encourages a healthy work-life balance can generally be regarded as a positive workplace.
In an ideal workplace, everyone is aware of their roles and understands how they fit into the bigger picture. It’s a place where workers feel supported, and each employee works together towards a common goal.
Another characteristic of a positive work environment is an atmosphere of teamwork, a place where workers are happy to work together and where management works to ensure that the place runs smoothly.
Good leaders also encourage open lines of communication and strive to ensure that the entire operation runs as smoothly as possible.
Good leaders provide a positive example for their workers to follow creating a more relaxed and positive atmosphere.
Leadership plays an important role in creating a positive work environment.
The best companies understand the importance of providing the workers with training, updating outdated systems, and providing tools that will help workers to use their time better and to stay current and competitive in today’s world. This can boost worker satisfaction, productivity, and create a better workplace environment.
A company that’s committed to keeping up in today’s quickly changing world will equip their workforce to keep up-to-date with changes.
A positive workplace is one where creativity and productivity are encouraged.
People want to feel appreciated and acknowledged and if there are problems at work that are unaddressed, it will only foster a workplace of stress, fear, and negativity. A positive workplace is one where creativity and productivity are encouraged.
If the workplace has a poor atmosphere, no one’s going to want to come to work.
Knowing that their ideas and opinions contribute to the organization can significantly boost morale in the workplace.
It helps the workers to feel validated and gives them satisfaction knowing that they’re being heard and taken seriously. Knowing that their ideas and opinions contribute to the organization can significantly boost morale in the workplace.
Maintaining open lines of communication is important for both employees and employers.
Few things are more frustrating than a lack of communication.
A company that is dedicated to quality, as well as ethical, honest business practices, will be more committed to providing a positive work environment for their employees.
A great mission statement is a good place to start, but even more importantly is a company that walks the walk and abides by their code of conduct and operates in accordance with their values.
First things first, does your workplace promote positive values?
Studies show that employees are 38 percent more likely to perform above average when they are highly engaged and creating a positive work environment can help workers to perform at their best.
A positive work environment is important for worker’s satisfaction, health, and even productivity.
A positive work environment may be more relevant than many people think.
A positive workplace environment, it seems, is a thing of the past or is it?
For many, work is stressful, overwhelming, and unsatisfying.
Even if not every part of the job is enjoyable, a great workplace affords opportunities to have fun on the job. Workers can lighten up at times in such a way that getting the job done is both satisfying and enjoyable.
Relationships often from inside and outside the workplace as employees learn to enjoy each other’s company.
A great workplace provides a healthy and enjoyable social environment in which co-workers often become friends, enjoying each other’s company and caring for each other’s well-being.
Workers are able to do their jobs efficiently without unnecessary struggles or safety hazards.
The best possible tools and equipment are available and maintained in good working condition at great workplaces.
From the top down, effective communication skills are held in high regard to help employees learn quickly, resolve difficulties, respect one another and introduce new ideas.
Clear, concise and consistent communication is vital at all levels of a great workplace.
All staff members are encouraged to guide and mentor co-workers.
Great companies encourage leadership among the workers.
The leaders in a great workplace serve as positive role models for the whole team, consistently walking the talk.
Workers given the freedom to be somewhat creative tend to take ownership of their work.
Employees feel empowered to bring ideas and new ways of operations to management.
Any great workplace is open to positive change and encourages creativity and new ideas.
There are clear paths of communication open for concerns and grievances to be aired and tackled.
Problems are addressed as they arise, with consideration given to the needs of all parties.
Hard work is recognized and rewarded at a great workplace.
Team members collaborate and celebrate their achievements, knowing that the work of the team outweighs individual needs.
The team and its productivity are more important than any individual’s input.
In order to maximize productivity, teamwork and collaboration are top principles of any great workplace.
Customers recognize and reward that energy, making the company more profitable as well.
People who are enthusiastic and invested in getting the job done well tend to reflect that enthusiasm in their work product.
A healthy and positive workplace strives to give its employees meaningful work.
The mission is obvious to employees, managers, and customers. Individuals know and accept their specific roles and responsibilities, even as they work towards a clear collective goal.
A great work environment has a clear vision and orientation.
A great workplace has many characteristics that make it a good experience for workers and managers at every level, and for the business as a whole.
Many businesses find that it is entirely worthwhile to expend effort on creating and maintaining an environment that is easy and pleasant to work in since productivity tends to go up.
Positive work atmospheres tend to be reflected in the quality of the work that’s done.
A positive work environment may be more relevant than many people think. A positive work environment is important –for worker’s satisfaction, health, and even productivity. Studies show that employees are 38 percent more likely to perform above average when they are highly engaged –and creating a positive work environment –can help workers to perform at their best.
Perhaps it is because the job workplace isn’t all that it should be. For many, work is stressful, overwhelming, and unsatisfying. A positive workplace environment, it seems, is a thing of the past or is it?
The intersection of business, technical and human is the sweet spot for an ideal job.
Energetic office space, ability to make a difference, autonomy, organizational alignment, shared values, fun.
Smart people, right tools/languages for the job, courage to change the industry, learning organization
Secure job, livable wage, health benefits, business transparency
After some reflection, I realized that the same diagram can be used to describe the ideal place to create great innovation.
IDEO describes the sweet spot for innovation in a very simple and elegant way with the following Venn diagram.
Create an environment where team members truly feel connected. Ideally, this starts with an intensive hiring process and a culture that states that you only work with people who are the best at what they do. Those individuals who make the cut will feel like they’ve made it into your company’s inner circle.
People identify themselves by the communities and social groups to which they belong.
It is no coincidence that the root word of “culture” is “cult”.
We’ve all heard it before: “People don’t leave companies, they leave managers.” Managers should prepare their team members for success by establishing clear objectives for each employee and by connecting these goals directly to the goals of the team/department and the company as a whole.
If your employees don’t feel like they are growing in a meaningful way, both personally and professionally. They won’t be around for long. However, if they’re immersed in a growth culture and feel like the company and their managers want them to get better for their own sake (not just the company’s), real magic will occur.
Space that wows: Work-life balance is a thing of the past. To truly flourish today, companies need a workspace that allows for work-life integration by creating a seamless experience for employees both in and out of the office. Your workspace ought to be a place where employees actually want to spend their time and should be set up to encourage behaviors that support your company’s values. Do you value open communication in your office? Then try tearing down the walls to create an open environment.
When you articulate the purpose behind your brand and product, that vision serves as a framework and guiding principle for every decision your employees make. It inspires them to think of creative solutions for your customers.
We know it can be hard to find ways to engage your employees. So what can you, as a people-focused executive, do to ensure that your office is a place where your employees want to be and where they can be their most ideal selves every day? What makes an office truly awesome?
I founded the Association of Workplace Engagement (AWE) with the mission to help companies create unique, vibrant and inspiring workspaces that promote high levels of employee engagement, wellness, and productivity. We like to call these workspaces “Awesome Offices.”
Times are changing fast. What people yearned for, expected and cared about 10 years ago is so different than today. Employee engagement, culture, hiring, retention and performance alignment used to solely be HR functions. Today, creating a culture where employees are driven to succeed involves every aspect of your company.
No place is perfect, but if you begin with the end in mind and think about walking in your employees’ shoes, you will be well on your way to creating a positive, productive workplace where people are happy to be part of your vision, contributing to your end goal.
Encourage social activities and fun outside the office – for those who want to participate. Include family and friends when possible. In the end, if people know and understand each other, you can build a positive workplace culture.
Making the workplace somewhere that employees actually enjoy will ensure people are working to support and deliver your mission.
No one said that you cannot have a little fun and laughter at work. People spend a lot of time working today.
It’s about the journey as much as the destination. It also includes sharing your passion with others.
Have a little fun. Being happy at work includes finding your passion, working toward it and having fun along the way.
Leading others is not easy. Reach out to mentors and identify training opportunities to help you develop your skills as a leader.
In a small company, that’s probably you. An employee’s attitude is a direct reflection of leadership.
Be the leader that you wanted as an employee. Research consistently suggests that an employee’s everyday experience, and as a result, the perception of where they work is most directly correlated with their relationship and experience with his or her direct supervisor.
Support employees when they face personal challenges.
Get to know your employees. Celebrate personal and professional milestones.
Understand that each employee yearns for respect in both their work and their personal lives.
Treat each employee as a person. Remember to recognize people not only for what they do but who they are.
Mobile usage. Sixty-six percent of high school students feel it is acceptable to check a mobile device for work during family time. Only 43 percent of workers age 55 and older agree with this.
Be flexible. Perhaps employees can work from home or shift hours to spend time with the children each day or go to school.
According to the Glassdoor survey, at Facebook, employees are frowned upon for missing important family affairs.
Conversely, only 73 percent of current workers feel the same way. While this is often more difficult for small business owners, think creatively.
Offer competitive salaries, benefits, perks, and promotions. Eighty-seven percent of high school students believe that a worker should be promoted every two to three years, as long as they are performing at a high level.
No one knows more than an entrepreneur that time is one of the most valuable commodities in life. In today’s technology-driven world, employees can easily stay connected to what’s happening with the business without being physically present.
Flexible schedules. While 33 percent of current workers believe it should not matter what time you arrive at the office, as long as your work is completed, only 25 percent of high school students feel the same way.
Growth includes future positions in the organization. Learn where your employees want to go and help them to find the path.
Through projects and training opportunities, an ideal workplace helps employees to grow individually which may great spillover for your company, culture, and morale.
People want to grow, develop and be challenged.
Provide opportunities for growth and development. It’s part of the human condition – to be productive.
Encourage feedback about the workplace, challenges, and opportunities for continuous improvement. Actively listen. Open communication practices will help to reduce silos as your company grows.
Make sure to provide both positive and constructive feedback.
Engage in transparent communications. Provide opportunities to communicate with employees, not just to them.
Your mission should be your rallying cry and help each employee know what they are contributing to daily. It provides your measurement tool as well.
This is about connecting the dots for each employee, not only when they join the company, but consistently while working for your company.
Make sure every employee understands he or she contributes to the mission and vision.
If you are doing something that does not deliver against it, you should not be doing it.
Hone it. And own it. Your mission should serve as your compass. If you are doing something that does not deliver against it, you should not be doing it.
Identify what your company stands for, where you want to take it and why you are doing what you are doing. It’s important to think about your vision and write it down.
As a small business owner, often dreamed about, idealized workplace from the ground up.
Why would employees rate their companies as the ideal place to work when, in fact, these same employees feel exhausted, overwhelmed and maybe even become ill due to the long hours and lack of rest and recovery time? According to the qualitative research from the New York Times, today’s employees are prisoners of low expectations. And they are worn-out.
Many of the companies at the top of these lists also may make these same employees feel miserable.
While perks are important, it’s most often the culture, opportunities for development, open communication, mission and vision, ownership of work and environment of inclusion that makes the real difference for employees.
Although SurePayroll’s customers often employee far less than 1,000 employees, the characteristics of building an amazing company to work for are the same.
Glassdoor recently published its annual 50 best places to work among large companies and 50 best places to work among small businesses, defined as employers with less than 1,000 employees.
CareerBuilder recently surveyed more than 3,000 employees age 18 and over, as well as 210 high school seniors. Their answers regarding attitudes toward workplace culture greatly differed.
Your ideal work environment may not be the same as the person sitting in the office (or cubicle) next door. The same holds true when comparing the attitudes of different generations.
Most people fantasize about the perfect job, the best place to work, following their passions and harnessing collaborative energies to do something meaningful. Or you may just dream of winning the lottery every day.
Maybe you are even alone, sitting on the beach with your laptop, working in between quick dips in the ocean.
For some, it may be fellow employees playing volleyball on a sand court just outside the office doors like Google. Or perhaps you think of employees sitting around on bean bags brainstorming ideas and finding solutions to problems in an open office environment.
When you think about the perfect workplace, what comes to mind?
I find that I work best in an environment that is empowering and positive, no matter what the work is that I’m doing.
My ideal work environment is one that is centered around working as a team and that allows everyone’s talents to flourish. When I was researching your company, your desire to cultivate each of your employees’ skills was very impressive to me.
One of the greatest mistakes that you can make when faced with this question is not making it personal to you and then becoming forgettable.
Don’t essentially read off the job description or company’s “about us” page.
Try not to stray from the actual company and its workings by making it all about you when you respond.
Do not focus your answer purely on the people you will be working with.
Don’t talk about how your ideal workplace is one with lots of vacation time and flexible hours.
Telling the truth about your ideal working environment is preferred, but make sure that you give an answer that has been pondered upon and is well-worded before jumping the gun.
Interviewers are looking for an honest and confident response.
Talk about your work-style and try to word your answer so that it blends in well with the company’s vision.
Highlight your desire to work in a team-oriented workplace.
Focus on wanting an environment that allows for the use and growth of your established skills and qualities.
Before answering, take into account how their company is structured in terms of work days, formality, small start-up vs. large corporation, etc.
Giving a response to this seemingly loaded question involves a deeper look at you and your various traits, particularly your positive ones.
It happens in every interview: the dreaded “what would be your ideal working environment” question. You’re often stumped because you don’t know exactly what they’re looking for in an answer.
No place is perfect, but if you begin with the end in mind and think about walking in your employee’s shoes, you will be well on your way to creating a positive, productive workplace where people are happy to be part of your vision, contributing to your end goal.
Encourage social activities and fun outside the office for those who want to participate.
People spend a lot of time working today. Making the workplace somewhere that employees actually enjoy will ensure people are working to support and deliver your mission.
It also includes sharing your passion with others. No one said that you cannot have a little fun and laughter at work.
It’s about the journey as much as the destination.
Reach out to mentors and identify training opportunities to help you develop your skills as a leader.
Have a little fun. Being happy at work includes finding your passion, working toward it and having fun along the way.
In a small company, that’s probably you. An employee’s attitude is a direct reflection of leadership. Leading others is not easy.
Research consistently suggests that an employee’s everyday experience, and as a result, the perception of where they work is most directly correlated with their relationship and experience with his or her direct supervisor.
A little bit of caring goes a long way toward employee and brand loyalty.
Support employees when they face personal challenges.
Get to know your employees. Celebrate personal and professional milestones.
Understand that each employee yearns for respect in both their work and their personal lives.
Remember to recognize people not only for what they do but who they are.
Sixty-six percent of high school students feel it is acceptable to check a mobile device for work during family time. Only 43 percent of workers age 55 and older agree with this.
Be flexible. Perhaps employees can work from home or shift hours to spend time with the children each day or go to school.
According to the Glassdoor survey, at Facebook, employees are frowned upon for missing important family affairs.
Eighty-seven percent of high school students believe that a worker should be promoted every two to three years, as long as they are performing at a high level. Conversely, only 73 percent of current workers feel the same way. While this is often more difficult for small business owners, think creatively.
Eighty-seven percent of high school students believe that a worker should be promoted every two to three years, as long as they are performing at a high level.
In today’s technology-driven world, employees can easily stay connected to what’s happening with the business without being physically present.
No one knows more than an entrepreneur that time is one of the most valuable commodities in life.
While 33 percent of current workers believe it should not matter what time you arrive at the office, as long as your work is completed, only 25 percent of high school students feel the same way.
Growth includes future positions in the organization. Learn where your employees want to go and help them to find the path.
People want to grow, develop and be challenged. Through projects and training opportunities, an ideal workplace helps employees to grow individually which may great spillover for your company, culture, and morale.
It’s part of the human condition, to be productive.
Encourage feedback about the workplace, challenges, and opportunities for continuous improvement. Actively listen. Open communication practices will help to reduce silos as your company grows.
Make sure to provide both positive and constructive feedback.
Provide opportunities to communicate with employees, not just to them.
Your mission should be your rallying cry and help each employee know what they are contributing to daily. It provides your measurement tool as well.
This is about connecting the dots for each employee, not only when they join the company, but consistently while working for your company.
It’s important to think about your vision and write it down. Hone it and own it. Your mission should serve as your compass. If you are doing something that does not deliver against it, you should not be doing it.
Identify what your company stands for, where you want to take it and why you are doing what you are doing.
According to the qualitative research from the New York Times, today’s employees are prisoners of low expectations. And they are worn-out.
Why would employees rate their companies as the ideal place to work when, in fact, these same employees feel exhausted, overwhelmed and maybe even become ill due to the long hours and lack of rest and recovery time?
Many of the companies at the top of these lists also may make these same employees feel miserable.
While perks are important, it’s most often the culture, opportunities for development, open communication, mission and vision, ownership of work and environment of inclusion that makes the real difference for employees.
Your ideal work environment may not be the same as the person sitting in the office (or cubicle) next door. The same holds true when comparing the attitudes of different generations.
Maybe you are even alone, sitting on the beach with your laptop, working in between quick dips in the ocean. Most people fantasize about the perfect job, the best place to work, following their passions and harnessing collaborative energies to do something meaningful. Or you may just dream of winning the lottery every day.
When you think about the perfect workplace, what comes to mind? For some, it may be fellow employees playing volleyball on a sand court just outside the office doors like Google. Or perhaps you think of employees sitting around on bean bags brainstorming ideas and finding solutions to problems in an open office environment.
Whenever possible, educational resources are also available to help workers develop their skills so they can become even more valuable to the organization.
Workers in a top organization have easy access to the resources they need to complete their tasks.
Employees feel that they are part of a group of superior people who are pulling together for the common good.
A great workplace contains an atmosphere that evokes a strong sense of community throughout the entire organization, not just within smaller team units.
The purpose of the feedback is to help employees identify and understand areas of needed improvement as opposed to chastising them for mistakes.
Supervisors in a great workplace offer frequent and constructive feedback to employees.
To encourage open communication, ask your supervisors to make themselves visible instead of remaining behind a closed office door for the entire day or put out regular newsletters to keep employees abreast of the latest company developments.
A small business flourishes when management fosters an atmosphere of open communication. When you communicate with your employees, you gain valuable insights regarding the work atmosphere, such as learning about small problems before they can escalate.
Your employees are an excellent resource for innovative ideas, so be sure to seek their input and reward them for their creativity.
Innovation allows you to stay one step ahead of the competition and prevent product or service stagnation.
A major factor in the success of your business is your ability to innovate.
The rules are enforced in the same manner for all workers, from rank-and-file members to top management, without the appearance of favoritism or provision of special privileges.
The best organization is one that treats every employee fairly.
The idea behind this autonomy is that the more freedom and input the worker has in performing her job, the greater meaning it will have to her, which increases her motivation to do the job well.
Great small businesses permit their workers a great deal of autonomy regarding how they perform specific job tasks.
Great small business owners and managers have the ability to blend the individual talents of their staff members into a team concept.
A great organization stresses teamwork while still encouraging individual achievement and creativity.
A great workplace has a clear and specific purpose for existing.
A fun, open, energetic and creative environment can make a big difference in the overall atmosphere of a company.
The more people feel open to talking about their leadership, the more problems will get solved and the more job satisfaction people will have. It’s one of the reasons I prefer not to have an office.
I’ll hire passion over experience any day.
When people are having fun, they work together better and they produce better work.
I’ve always felt that if people are going to spend most of their waking week at the office, it should be a fun environment.
Craves honest feedback from its employees.
Great places to work are open to how the company is performing.
Simply put, if you show that you are going to do great work, your career will grow accordingly.
While politics are always going to happen in a work environment, great companies have very little of it and work hard to stomp it out when it creeps up.
Collaboration creates better work, better results, and better culture.
As an employee of a company, you should have the ability to change career paths if you’ve proven you’re a dependable, hard-working and passionate person.
Always be a balanced and fair leader.
Employees want to know where the company is pointed, what the company believes in and what everyone is working toward.
Recently a friend passed me an article that listed characteristics that make a great place to work. Instead of reading it I decided to make my own list. I’ve done this in the past, such as with this post: The 12 keys to being excellent at anything. It’s a fun exercise.
In essence, a transparent and open form of communication addresses the employee’s need to feel that what they have to say has value. It is what makes employees feel that they belong to the organization. Work then becomes meaningful because the employees know that what they contribute affects the organization that they are affiliated with.
If you’re looking for a new job, then I would say that assessing the work environment is a crucial step you shouldn’t skip. After all, this is the place you might be working at in future and you wouldn’t want to be dragging yourself to work every single morning!
A positive work environment makes employees feel good about coming to work, and this provides the motivation to sustain them throughout the day.
By work environment, I mean everything that forms part of employees’ involvement with the work itself, such as the relationship with co-workers and supervisors, organizational culture, room for personal development, etc.
Aside from the job scope itself, one factor that significantly influences how employees feel about work is the environment.
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When interviewing, spend a few minutes describing your ideal environment, so both sides can make an informed decision.
We all spend the bulk of our day at work, so making sure the work environment is right for you is critical.
Let the interviewer know how the company’s mission reflects your values. You might say, “I want to work for a company that cares about the environment, and that’s why I’m so interested in this opportunity.”
Review the company’s mission statement to understand how it addresses its long-term goals and the way it does business.
Some companies look for people who share their values and may expect you to address that in your interview.
Work-life balance is a typical interview question, so you should give it a great deal of thought because your work environment will have many implications for your long-term happiness.
Many people like an environment where they can work remotely, while others prefer the interactions that can happen only at the office.
For others, work is their life, so their ideal environment is one in which most of the other employees feel the same way. If that’s you, you might say, “When I’m on a roll, I like to work late, so I like it when there are other people around.”
For some people, the ideal work environment has set hours, with people arriving at 9 a.m. and leaving at 5 p.m. For those with family responsibilities, this may represent the ideal environment. If this is what you want to convey, you could say, “I think it’s important to be productive by 9 a.m., so I can feel good about leaving at 5 p.m.”
How you respond to this question may be a litmus test for how well you’ll fit into the organization.
Others may prefer a more informal work environment in which there is less structure in the way the company operates. If that’s your preferred environment, you might say you like extemporaneous meetings in hallways and business decisions made over a casual lunch.
Of the most typical interview questions, this one is designed to illuminate the environment in which you like to work. Everyone has a preferred way of working. Some people like the formality of processes. If that’s you, say, “I like when processes are in place, so I know what steps to take.”
Typical interview questions like small company versus large company are designed to determine where you will be best-suited to perform and contribute. Let the interviewer know why you prefer one environment over another.
If you have a number of years under your belt and believe you already know how to manage all or part of a business successfully, then a small company might be the place for you. In your answer, you might say, “I’ve had great training from large companies and want to import those practices into a small company, so I can have a greater impact.
Your preference may also depend on where you are in your career. If you’re just starting out, a large company may be the place to learn processes. If that’s how you feel, say, “I want to own my own company someday and want to learn the best methodologies for running a business.”
If you like small companies, you might say, “I want to work for a small company because you get exposed to more things faster.” However, if you like the greater resources and more formalized training of a large organization, you should communicate that when interviewing.
A very common question is whether you are most productive and comfortable in a small or large company. Both have benefits, so you need to think about which environment best suits you and your work style.
Many job seekers stumble when asked in an interview to describe their ideal work environment. Remember, when you’re interviewing, you are being screened for a certain skill set and cultural fit.
People are happiest and most productive when they work in an environment that suits them.
When hiring managers ask about your ideal work environment, they’re trying to figure out if you’ll be a good fit for the job and the organization.
You’ll save time and make the job-search process a whole lot easier by joining Monster today.
You can get ahead by joining Monster today. As a member, you can upload your resume and quickly apply for jobs you’re interested in.
There’s plenty of competition for jobs at top companies.
The organization is environmentally-aware by encouraging solar power and recycling.
The office itself features natural and recessed lighting with incandescent bulbs rather than halogen or fluorescent.
The company offers reimbursement for childcare and/or on-site childcare.
The company offers comprehensive health insurance, with weight-loss, smoking-cessation, and substance-abuse programs. The corporate cafeteria features a low-fat menu, and the company gym is stocked with exercise equipment.
People need acknowledgment, appreciation, and gratitude to be motivated. Genuine compliments, rewards, bonuses, raises, promotions, and certificates of achievement are oil in the machinery. The company thanks, employees regularly in these ways.
The company and its employees embrace change, accommodate new trends and technology, and incorporate new skills. They know if they don’t, the business will end up a dinosaur. As the saying goes, “Change is the only constant.”
People will usually go the extra mile for others when they’re treated well and with understanding, compassion, and respect.
Kindness and understanding prevail when employees face challenges such as accidents, illnesses, personal tragedies, and natural disasters.
Laughter generates endorphins, our natural antidepressants.
Employees keep things in perspective, have fun, and laugh.
Healthy competition exists without vengeful, spiteful backstabbing.
Employees have a sense of camaraderie, cooperation, and empowerment.
Can do, go the extra mile and win-win attitudes are evident.
They don’t play nasty revenge games when given difficult feedback. Instead, they view feedback as an opportunity for growth.
Everyone communicates in a cards-on-the-table manner, solving difficulties in a positive way.
They take responsibility for their actions and decisions.
Employees give 200%. They strive to be the best and to deliver top-quality products and services.
Creativity, productivity, and thinking outside the box flourish.
People enjoy coming to work and feel appreciated, acknowledged and rewarded. Signs of fear, domination, bullying, sexual harassment, and intimidation are absent. Creativity, productivity, and thinking outside the box flourish.
The company sets out to achieve its goals in ethical, honest ways with an elevated sense of purpose to improving the planet and humanity.
A positive mission statement outlines the goals and demonstrative behavior that exemplify the highest commitment to quality and service to each other, the company, customers, and shareholders.
Positive workplaces tend to exhibit a common set of traits that foster excellence, productivity, and camaraderie.
Deal with issues together. Basically, whatever it is that you do, do it as a team.
Celebrate events like birthdays for each member of your team to show the exclusivity.
Have team-bonding activities that let the team focus on the positive sides of each member and negate the negative ones.
There is a need for them to see that they’re working towards a common goal before they can look beyond the differences.
Instilling a strong team spirit is not easy because it involves the acceptance and tolerance of differences in perspectives and working styles between teammates.
They are working towards something bigger than themselves and as a team.
This is where a sense of unity is evoked in the team and employees will no longer just feel that they’re working for themselves.
Come tough times, the team should come together to deal with whatever problems are out there.
As social beings, we naturally seek support from our peers and seek to belong to a group.
These should be made specific and personal for the employee to feel that what they do are being taken seriously and appreciated.
Managers ought to verbalize their appreciations for simple little things when employees go the extra mile.
Apart from having a system of monetary rewards in place to award those who perform at work, daily interactions can also be a good means of recognizing efforts.
When hard work is appropriately rewarded and duly recognized by the management, employees will naturally feel valued by the organization for what they put in. Such mentality is healthy for the organization because employees will be willing to go the extra mile without worrying about not getting anything in return.
A reward here doesn’t have to be monetary in nature; sometimes even a simple verbal recognition by the supervisor is all that is necessary to spur the employees’ motivation.
It is used in organizational behavior management as well: by rewarding employees who put in an effort for their work, this will promote similar behaviors in the future.
Rewards are necessary to encourage certain behaviors in persons. This is known as positive reinforcement under operant conditioning in the field of psychology.
A positive work environment would have routine training to improve efficiency and instill positive attitudes among employees.
Soft skills are the interpersonal skills which could affect the morale of the organization.
Hard skills are an impact work productivity directly e.g. knowledge of a new database management system
There are two kinds of skills that can be developed: hard skills and soft skills.
A training and development-focused organization have a clear roadmap for training their employees to sustain and enhance the productivity of the organization as a whole.
Adapting to change is never more crucial in this era because those who don’t, get replaced. This applies to both the individual and the organization itself.
In a time when change is more rampant than ever before, it is necessary for organizations to keep abreast with the changes and train their employees accordingly. For instance, technology is evolving so rapidly that what organizations commonly used ten years ago could be made obsolete today (e.g. Zip drives, dial-up modems, etc).
The organization may adopt a firm stance on work-life balance by educating employees on the benefits of having such balance in their lives or even include it in their mission statement.
Managers have a responsibility to show that this is not right, by rewarding employees who maintain good work-life balance habits (e.g. leave work on time) and can still perform well.
Some employees are simply workaholics who would rather neglect other aspects of their life for work.
Good employees or workers are often defined as those who put in loads of effort and sacrificed their personal time in order to perform well in their work. Some employees are simply workaholics who would rather neglect other aspects of their life for work.
Work-life balance can promote creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
When employees fulfill their various needs and goals in life, such as those of family, friends, spiritual pursuits, self-growth, etc, they can then feel more confident about themselves and perform their best at work. Apart from that, employees that are exposed to more experiences in life outside of work can use what they’ve gained and apply that to their work.
In general, having that sense of balance will improve job satisfaction among employees because they will feel that they’re not overlooking the other areas of their lives that are, if not more, important to them than work.
There has to be some sort of balance between work and personal life.
This is when employees will not be afraid to suggest ideas to improve the work processes, thus benefiting everyone in the organization in return.
Everyone becomes more united with the organization’s mission in their mind. There is mutual respect among all employees, regardless of their official statuses.
Promotes trust in day-to-day interactions between co-workers, as well as between subordinates and supervisors.
Such two-way open communication will eventually break down the hurdles present in hierarchical or bureaucratic organizations.
The management side will give their own perspectives on how to fulfill the organization’s mission.
Having open discussions get people involved and allow them to share their views and perspectives on how to achieve company goals.
It is thus essential for staff to discuss the organization’s philosophy, mission and values, from time to time during retreats, meetings, etc to ensure that everyone knows what they’re working for other than their paychecks.
The employees know that what they contribute affects the organization that they are affiliated with.
A transparent and open form of communication addresses the employee’s need to feel that what they have to say has value. It is what makes employees feel that they belong to the organization.
In essence, a transparent and open form of communication addresses the employee’s need to feel that what they have to say has value.
A positive work environment makes employees feel good about coming to work, and this provides the motivation to sustain them throughout the day.
A workplace where there is respect for individual’s ideas and always appreciate good work as well as knowledge.
The workplace that gives enough space and helps employees to grow. There should be healthy teamwork, good communication, mutual understanding between each team member.
A job where I can use my creative abilities to support, aid and mentor other professionals.
I would prefer working in an interesting and professional job where everybody works hard and help each other to succeed as a team.
An environment with various sized teams of equally passionate, creative and intelligent people on projects that are both exciting and practical.
I really enjoy working with teams and feel mutual trust and respect is a necessary component of any job.
Work environments where trust and teamwork are keys to success.
I flourish in an environment that allows me to grow my position and gives me learning opportunities.
My ideal job is friendly, fast-paced, available to learning new things, challenging and of course opportunity for career advancement.
I would love to work in a job in which I can work both by myself and with others to achieve the end result. I am very self-motivated so I am interested in working in an atmosphere where I can continuously learn new things and improve my skills.
My ideal job would be an open, supportive, entrepreneurial, stimulating, collaborative, inspiring, focused on fostering strengths.
I would prefer the company culture to be very team-oriented and focused on delivering real measurable results while still maintaining a friendly and respectful work environment.
A job that my skills are utilized to the maximum and allows me to grow within the organization.
A teamwork-oriented environment in a company that empowers employees to create and take initiatives.
A job that provides an opportunity to learn, progress and contribute to the organization.
I would describe the ideal job as a job that makes the most of my qualifications and abilities and gives me a chance to constantly challenge myself. I look for a stable job with quality supervision, a positive work culture at a successful company that will encourage me to work at my best.
My ideal working environment is one where there’s a good sense of team spirit. A strong work ethic is obviously important but the human side is also important. I enjoy working with people who have a decent sense of humor and who, while they might take their work very seriously, don’t necessarily take themselves overly seriously! I like people who are down to earth but who have a dynamic and progressive approach to their work. I really enjoy working as part of a highly committed and professional team.
An ideal work environment is one that is centered around working as a team and that allows everyone’s talents to flourish. There must be a desire to cultivate each of your employees’ skills. Some employees work best in an environment that is empowering and positive, no matter what the work is that I’m doing.
Step back and let your employees do their jobs. You have to trust that they will do a good job—after all, you hired them for a reason. While you should be periodically checking in with your employees, you don’t want to be overbearing about it.
I once had a boss who read every email that anyone sent to the entire company. I would send a coworker a private email asking about the details of a project, and my boss would respond with input. Everyone felt like we were being watched, and morale suffered.
You know those parents that hover over their children constantly and never give them time to breathe? You don’t want to be the workplace equivalent of that. Your instinct may be to micromanage and make sure everything is running exactly as you want it, but that will only create a negative environment for everyone else in the office.
Some creative incentives they offer include tickets to play laser tag, Netflix subscriptions, and if you work hard at it for several years, you could even earn a safari to Africa.
Internet marketing company WebpageFX has an “ongoing learning program” that rewards employees for spending time outside of work reading industry-related books, learning code, or attending seminars.
Staff meetings are a great time to acknowledge the work your employees do. You can take two minutes out of your meetings to bring attention to your employees’ accomplishments. Other rewards that are cost-efficient can involve letting your hard working employees either leave work early or come in later or present them with a prize such as a gift card.
It’s a good idea to reward an employee who does a good job. Recognizing the individuals who work hard will encourage them to keep up the great work. It also instills the notion that hard work is acknowledged and appreciated, and encourages other employees to strive for the same recognition.
At Swartz Kitchens & Bath, employees are encouraged to share design tips in their weekly meetings. This lets them learn from each other and also helps them to be on the lookout for more ideas to share with the team.
Set up specific times during the day to open your office door and allow employees to bounce ideas off of you. Encourage your team members, especially the more quiet employees, by asking for input directly that will help cement the fact that everyone’s input is important.
Encourage employees to voice ideas. Even if the idea may need some work, it’s still important that everyone has his or her say. This will show that each member of your team is valuable and his or her input is just as important as fellow coworkers.
Each one of your employees is with your company for a reason.
Address them head-on and make it clear why it’s an issue. Especially if you are carrying bad news, it’s much better to be direct with your words.
The key to good communication at work is to be clear and direct. If there are issues, don’t avoid them and pretend they don’t exist.
There should be an equal amount of communication between you and your employees.
Your employees need to understand what you want them to accomplish, but you also need to have an idea of what they expect from you.
Good communication between a boss and his or her employees is essential for a positive working relationship.
You want your employees to respect you, not fear you. Creating a positive work environment will yield far better results for your employees and your company.
You want your employees to respect you, not fear you. Creating a positive work environment will yield far better results for your employees and your company.
An employee’s motivation to work is heavily influenced by his or her environment.
We’ve all heard some of the horror stories about terrible jobs or bad managers, and the one thing each of these stories has in common was the negative workplace environment.
When it comes to managing your employees, one of the most important things you can do for them involves setting the right tone at work
Our staff is constantly confronted with ever new challenges due to a demanding global working environment. But we know that a well-adjusted work-life balance increases their satisfaction.
While the image of female bosses excelling at nurturing may not exactly challenge stereotypes, a study published in the Harvard Business Review assessing the merits of 7,280 bosses found that at every level, more women were rated as better overall leaders than men. So hunt down a female-led team and join them. Quickly. And there is a new, progressive style of management emerging. As Mark Catchlove from office designers, Herman Miller explains: “It’s about creating what we call ‘social capital’ – a sense of community and belonging. Workers are much more loyal to people than they are to a company, so bosses shouldn’t be shut away in ivory towers.”
There is growing evidence to suggest that women just edge it when it comes to being the best bosses. One 2011 survey found that women came across as calmer, more tolerant, more aware of personal problems and understanding of the need for a work-life balance. However, another 2010 study found that two-thirds of women prefer male bosses who they said were ‘more straight-talking, less likely to have a hidden agenda or get involved in office politics’.
US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly has treadmill workstations, in the UK, recruitment company Spencer Ogden has in-office bicycles and in Sweden, workers can attend events where they can dance for an hour, called Lunch Beat. Employers have reported a hike in productivity and Lunch Beat is now backed by workers’ unions. The ideal working lunch, then, is based on getting as far away from the desk-bound sandwich as possible. Get active, get out and forget about work.
There’s no prescribed amount of time you should take for your break. What’s important is that you focus on something other than your inbox. Ideally, this option to refocus should be available in your workplace too and not just around midday. In his book, Brain Rules: 12 Principles For Surviving And Thriving At Work, Home And School, John Medina believes exercise creates a protein which nourishes the brain, so workers need to find ways of building activity into their day – from ‘walking meetings’ in a treadmill conference room to sitting on exercise balls to read emails.
View your food as fuel (few carbs, plenty of protein and fresh produce) and avoid sugar, white rice, pasta, and potatoes as they’ll increase insulin levels and serotonin that will send you to sleep. A Bupa study in July showed less than a third of us take a full hour for lunch. But don’t be fooled into thinking you’re being productive. “The lunch break is an essential part of recharging the brain for the afternoon ahead,” says work psychologist Averil Leimon. “Ideally, you need to leave everything work-related behind.” That could be as simple as going to a gallery. Jane Asscher from advertising agency 23red gives every member of her staff a cultural allowance to spend on anything with “a creative element”. “It means people are getting exposed to new ideas they can bring to their work,” she explains. “Plus, they often go with colleagues so it helps people connect outside the office.”
Like eating our five-a-day, drinking less and reading War And Peace, everyone knows we should take our lunch break but it’s also important you don’t wait too long to eat. Your body starts depleting its reserves if it doesn’t get fed after seven hours and that’s the reason why we should eat before 2 pm – the average Brit gets up at 7.12am so 1-2pm is when most of us get hungry after breakfast.
The new model could work for our bosses too. “Employers don’t pay for unproductive time and employees get to work in a pattern that adjusts to their personal lives,” says Falconer. Just imagine, two hours’ work in the morning, an hour off then maybe two shorter stints. You’d pay your bills on time, get your groceries in the daylight and be super productive at work. It might even make that gym membership worthwhile, too.
Working from home means that when we lose energy we can do something else such as to cook, walk the dog or even sleep until the energy returns. “People need to build in 25 minutes a day of uninterrupted thinking, away from technology and the expectation of immediate response,” says Parker. “Companies are creating tech-free zones while Nike and Google have nap rooms. Studies show that 20 minutes of sleep in the afternoon provides more rest than 20 minutes extra in bed in the morning. It’s when our bodies naturally slow down and need a top up.”
After a couple of hours of intense work, energy levels drop and towards lunch, workers are achieving practically nothing. In fact, Falconer believes only three to four hours a day could be classed as highly productive. She believes the answer lies in four hours of screen time, interspersed with other, physical activities. “The traditional office setting doesn’t accommodate this because there are few ‘recharge activities’, which can be as simple as household chores or running errands,” explains Falconer.
Some secondary schools are trying to combat this natural drowsiness by proposing lessons start at 11 am. If workers too can control their own timetable, lie-ins might no longer warrant a P45. “The most productive period is the beginning of the day,” reveals Erin Falconer of pickthebrain.com – the exact time depends on your body clock. “People are capable of creative tasks like writing and solving complex technical problems.”
“The hours you are most productive are driven by your circadian (biological) rhythm, which determines whether you’re a morning or a night person, a lark or an owl,” explains Monica Parker, behaviorist and head of workplace consultancy at Morgan Lovell. “Larks have shorter circadian rhythms, meaning they sleep through their peak hour of sleepiness, and wake up at 7 am refreshed. Owls, with longer rhythms, usually wake up around their peak hour of sleepiness at 7 am, so still have high levels of melatonin, making them groggy,” she explains.
Now we have electricity, we can effectively work anytime we want. But all-night working isn’t going to catch on (humans sleep when it’s dark because our bodies produce more melatonin – a hormone which causes drowsiness), but perhaps we should be able to tailor work hours to our personal needs?
It might feel like we’ve been locked in the nine-to-five structure since the dawn of time, but the eight-hour day was once a revolutionary concept. First championed by socialist Robert Owen in 1817, who believed workers deserved eight hours each of work, recreation and rest, by the 20th century it was proved productivity increased the fewer hours we worked.
These questions can be a springboard for either forming a picture of the potential workplace or helping you evaluate your current organization’s culture. By defining the type of culture that could help you thrive, you can make your job search and your continual professional development much more satisfying.
Does every employee have to clock in and out at the same time, or is the expectation that employees can get their work done within flexible hours? Are employees allowed to pursue ideas that could benefit the organization?
What is the driving force for employees to come to work each day? Is it to earn the highest sales commission possible? Or, perhaps to spread the message about an issue of personal significance? Why do employees want to work at this organization?
Do employees work together on the same projects? Do they socialize at work? Are they expected to socialize outside of work? Does everyone work individually? Is there a healthy camaraderie among the employees?
Do employees often get together and brainstorm, bouncing ideas off of one another? Or is there a formal chain of command that ideas have to go through? Do all questions or requests have to be submitted by email, or is it more typical that employees will simply have a conversation?
To find the right fit, you have to first consider the cultural features you personally like or dislike. Below are some questions to help sketch a rough picture of your organization’s culture. If you are currently seeking a new job, think about these points and use your answers to screen potential employers.
Finding a workplace with an organizational culture that fits your work style is a critical component of any job search. Unfortunately, the important piece of the puzzle is frequently overlooked by job seekers. This problem is partially due to the work involved in accurately identifying an organization’s culture.
The following steps a company needs to do would be to identify the ideal workplace for its employees and then improve their work accordingly.
The advice is based on the theory of careers and vocational choice by late American psychologist John L. Holland. His theory, named the Holland Codes, suggests that most people fit into six basic personality types in the workplace.
The infographic suggests that, first, the employee needs to identify their workplace personality type.
Many companies have failed to offer the best work environment to their employees. According to the infographic below, featured on Cool Infographics and made by Quill, research shows that three out of four U.S. employees do not work in the most favorable settings.
An ideal workplace that guarantees success is relative.
One of the main success factors modern companies and rising startups are focusing on is office design. Studies, including this one, have found that office design can make or break a business performance.
Workplace culture changes over time. It can be redefined and improved.
Help your clients promote a healthy workplace culture.
How are communications or conflicts handled in the workplace? What’s the frequency of interaction between leaders and employees? Knowing this information will help your client understand his or her own preferred work style and the level of transparency and collaboration that exists in information-sharing and decision-making.
What type of personalities does your client prefer to work with? For example, the client may favour working with team members who are easygoing and social or with those who are ambitious and results-driven.
Does your client favor transformational, coaching-based, or laissez-faire leadership? A survey based on a 3-year study by Daniel Goleman revealed that a manager’s leadership style contributed to driving 30% of bottom-line profitability.
What are workplace values essential for your client? Some examples include the following: team collaboration, quality, integrity, or a client-centered focus.
Which skills will leverage the client’s unique value? These could be things such as change leadership, problem-solving, or technical skills.
Is your client seeking a traditional, entrepreneurial, or does your client long for a free-thinking company culture that believes in investing in qualified talent?
What workplace objects, pictures, historic artifacts, colours, or physical signs represent personally meaningful symbols for your client? These could be things such as photographs or artwork displayed in the work environment, corporate colours and logos – even the choice and placement of office furniture could have particular significance to a client.
Does your client prefer to work in a start-up, mid-sized, or large corporation? What industry? A large company may offer room to move up the corporate ladder, while a small company may offer experience in diverse areas.
Help your client outline the ideal company and position in a vision/mission statement, including the client-specific must-have, nice-to-have, and must-not-have criteria. A clear focus will help eliminate companies and roles that are not a good fit.
Is your client seeking interesting work in a growth-focused environment? Or is salary or work location a primary motivator?
Culture in the workplace is more than clearly defined policies posted in the lunchroom. What matters is whether policies and best practices are consistently communicated, implemented, and aligned with organizational values and goals. In fact, high employee performance and retention, less absenteeism, and fewer conflicts and safety incidents are common traits of organizations with healthy, solid cultures.
Culture in the workplace is more than clearly defined policies posted in the lunchroom.
An organization’s culture can impact its bottom line and brand, as well as its team members, clients, and stakeholders. It represents the backbone of an organization, shapes how things are done, and influences the beliefs, values, traditions, and behaviours of its employees and stakeholders.
ome have been advised by recruiters during interviews that they may not be the best fit. These scenarios demonstrate the power and influence of organizational culture.
Clients often share that they dislike the way things are done in their organization, or they don’t agree with company policies.
the glue that holds an organization together
Organizational culture is important, but often overlooked aspect of career-related exploration and decision-making. This component should be addressed to clients in order to help them secure a rewarding role aligned with their particular career goals and values.
like people who are down to earth but who have a dynamic and progressive approach to their work. I really enjoy working as part of a highly committed and professional team.
I enjoy working with people who have a decent sense of humour and who, while they might take their work very seriously, don’t necessarily take themselves overly seriously! I
The job market is fierce, competition has never been greater and it’s important that you can grab every opportunity for competitive advantage and stay one step ahead
When you make it through to the interview, it’s not just about them finding the best candidate for you, it’s also about whether you’re the right fit for the job. Your Plum profile provides some questions to ask the interviewer so that you can determine whether you’ll be happier here because you are better matched to the role and company culture. Don’t just take the job to get out of your current role or you’ll end up hating this one too.
As you apply for jobs, take some time to research the company culture to see if it matches what your Plum Profile indicates are environments you’d be a better match in. This information can be found on the company’s career page as many companies try to be upfront about who they are. Setting up information interviews to gain more insight into the company can also be valuable. Finally, you can check other sites like Glassdoor or google search employee reviews to see what employees report about that work environment. Be cautious, though, as you need to take into consideration that often times, it’s the disgruntled employees who are vocal and it may not be a direct reflection of what the majority of employees think.
Plum provides you with a profile of your talents. These are your personal strengths in the workplace. The profile also provides you with a description of what types of work environment someone with your personality and work behaviors would be happiest in. Use this as a reference to guide you through the process.
You may have the office currently cleaned, even doing it yourself or thinking should we consult a Cleaning Company regardless of approach be mindful to sincerely value the importance of health and a clean environment.
Perhaps a certain cleaning product may bother a certain employee? Perhaps your employees have their own advice on how your office can improve? Educating your employees is also important and getting them apart from the culture. For example, activities such as not washing hands, eating at your desk and being cluttered at your desk all increase the chance of catching and spreading germs, especially when most offices have shared ducted air-conditioning units. You can even motivate your employees to stay clean and organized by holding a clean desk contest!
The next step is to talk to your employees and get their perspective, after all a clean office is a happy and productive office, as the saying goes Cleanliness’ is next to Godliness.
Walk around your office and identify which areas and aspects of your office could be improved in terms of presentation and cleanliness. You should also pay special attention to high traffic areas such as hallways and entrances. Once you have analyzed your office you can get a better idea of what may be required décor or cleaning needs.
A probability is that we may be overlooking certain glaring things. We always recommend taking a step back and looking at your office space from a customer’s perspective. This allows you to be critical of the image portrayed and then being able to identify and rectify things you may not have been aware of.
This may seem trivial, but this detail can have a big impact on your daily happiness at work. If you absolutely hate wearing a uniform, you need to take this into account when weighing up new job opportunities. You may also find that you’re never comfortable in a suit or very formal business-wear; make sure to observe or ask if this is the ‘norm’ in potential workplaces.
Do you like working independently, being responsible for only for own work? Or are you comfortable managing others? Take a minute to reflect on your past work experiences: were you happiest when you had a tightly scheduled work day, or when you had more freedom to schedule your own day? Did you prefer it when your supervisors were highly involved in your daily work, or when they were less involved? Try to isolate the elements that made these previous positions positive or negative experiences for you.
Think beyond the 9-to-5: when do you really want to be working? Are there certain hours of the day in which you are more alert and productive than others? Working hours that work for you can impact how well you do your job.
It does not mean ‘what company do you want to work for?’ but, literally, where? In the city, suburbs, or maybe the remote wilderness? Do you want to be sitting in an office building, working inside but staying active, or doing physical labor outdoors? What length of commute would make you happiest: a short walk to work, or a long, peaceful drive?
Early bird or night owl? The question divides, but the struggle is real. Depending on your body’s natural clock, you may work best early in the morning, late at night, or somewhere in between.
Once you’ve decided on your space, fill it with what inspires you and makes you productive, but don’t over-clutter so much that you can’t find a spot on the desk or are distracted by your whimsy additions. Of course, family photos, quotes, and tranquil images can be great for a motivating work environment. Paint colors like red and orange have even been found to be psychologically distracting. Invest in beneficial equipment, like ergonomic keyboards and mice and back-friendly chairs. You may even prefer a standing desk.
If you have complete autonomy over where you work, you better pick a place that you enjoy and makes you thrive. Don’t settle for anything less! Whether it’s in a small, upstairs office with big windows, or a quiet, loft-like nook, make sure your workspace puts you in a good mood. If that means you have to make adjustments to your space, by all means, go for it!
Be cognizant of how you’re interacting with employees. Team members and upper management should focus on their communication methods and the effects they have on the office environment.
Working in a clean, attractive office can have tremendous effects on co-workers and manager relationships, said Mike Canarelli, CEO, and co-founder of Web Talent Marketing.
Lighting plays a vital role in workers’ performance and attitude. An article by MBA@UNC, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler’s 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.
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.
Look & Listen to what’s occurring in the work environment. Be open to discussing individually with team members, and within teams, everyone’s accountability to the new work environment. Be open to making adjustments and course corrections where it makes sense so the work environment continues to get even closer to “ideal.”
Apply the Clean Slate Strategy. This provides everyone a fresh start. When implementing this strategy everyone agrees to let go of the past, give all co-workers and company leaders the benefit of the doubt, and focuses only on ensuring accountability to the agreed future.
Enroll & Engage all personnel in new behavior and performance expectations. This is done solely with an eye towards the future and defined consistent with the new culture expectations from Step 1.
Determine the potential roadblocks to implementing these newly identified characteristics. Get them out on the table, address them, and agree to focus on the newly identified desired future workplace characteristics. I know you’re fearful and skeptical this can work, and it will when you approach it the correct way.
Identify the behaviors, communication styles and other characteristics people working in the environment would need to consistently display. Both company leaders and all employees should participate in this process. It can be done with everyone together or can be done separately, and the two lists merged.
What benefits does the company offer on their career page?
Check out the financial health of the company.
What are the employees saying about the company?
Read the company mission statement. What resonates with you? What do you believe in that the company focuses on?
Visit the company website to check it out.
Consider working remotely to expand your company options.
Use Career One Stop Business Finder to identify companies in your area.
Decide on a geographic area.
Review what the top 100 best companies to work for do to wow their employees.
Define what you are looking for. Large, medium or small size company? Career growth & opportunity?
Today’s working environment should be simple, fun and interactive. Things have changed a lot over the years. No more cubicles, no more single workspaces, no more silence at the office.
Just because you’re the owner of a company, the CEO or the manager, that doesn’t give you the right to abuse your employees. A true leader shouldn’t be afraid to reveal the person behind the title. Employees want leaders they can rely on; they want to relate to them, gain their respect, and not be afraid to make mistakes.
As a company leader, you should never stop communicating objectives, goals and visions. It’s really important for an entrepreneur to have active conversations with employees. Don’t hold back, and prove to your employees that you’re an open-minded person. Talk about everything, share secrets, and find a way to make employees feel like part of a family.
Encourage your employees to take matters into their own hands. Allow them to make mistakes and keep them motivated by supporting their ideas.
Growing up as the inaugural digital native generation, this age group is inspired by connectivity. From childhood, this generation has been taught to work on teams (football team, school…). Its members tend to work best in groups, and team-building exercises should encourage this. While there are many ways to approach team building with a millennial workforce, a lot of companies are using interactive virtual games to inspire creativity and collaboration.
Millennials have a different way of working and thinking, but they highly respect the experience of older generations. They want to work for people who will inspire them to do a great job. Millennials define leaders as personable, visionary, inspirational, and strategic thinkers. They don’t want the distant leaders of other times. Millennials want a leader who they can talk to. They want to identify some characteristics in their leaders that make them feel great about working with them.
Corporate culture has long defined itself as a competitive place, where people do everything they can to get ahead.
Feedback is a two-way communication system, and Millennials require it more often than before. Anual supervisions are not enough anymore. Millennials want at least quarterly reviews and regular feedback. They don’t only want to know how they are doing, but also want the capability of telling the manager how she or he is doing.
Research has shown that the top-down management style is ineffective for the majority of millennials. Most have been raised working in teams through sports, or group projects. Encouraging collaboration in the workplace is crucial, and blatant hierarchy here can pose a big roadblock.
This generation is considered to be less attached to material things than their predecessors (excluding technological devices, of course).
You may not realize it, but where you choose to do business will profoundly affect how you operate. Putting yourself in the right environment to network, collaborate and be open to new opportunities is key. Take Saint-Henri, for example. HRVST’s offices are located in the Chateau St Ambroise, which is right on the Lachine Canal and smack dab in the heart of the neighborhood. We’re surrounded by so much positivity and creativity in this area, and even just in this building, that it adds to our daily business operations. There are cool, new companies sprouting up constantly, and we love being a part of the community. Not to mention the amount of top-notch bars and restaurants nearby isn’t too shabby, either.
The human mind is a high-powered machine and like many machines, it needs the right fuel to keep working at maximum capacity. That’s why it’s so important to have the right food and drinks around so you can stay focused on completing your tasks. Need a quick snack? Boom! There’s a banana and a granola bar. Need a coffee to conquer that afternoon slump? Bam! Hot cup of joe coming right up. Need a beer because it’s 6:00pm and you’ve got five more hours of work left to finish up? Go for it; you deserve it. Make your place of work feel like home so that you’re not just counting down the minutes until your day is done. Your workspace should be a place of comfort where you don’t mind staying late because you probably will be.
Despite how many times they’ve been warned otherwise, people are always going to judge a book by its cover. When it comes to your working environment, you want it to have an immediate “wow” factor. That starts with aesthetic; what kind of floors, walls, art, desks, chairs and overall atmosphere does the space have? Never underestimate how motivating the right look can be. Nobody wants to work in a dump or a stereotypical office with cubicles and painful fluorescent lights, there’s no inspiration in that. Furthermore, nothing productive will get done if the place is a pigsty. Keep things neat, organized and cool, and you’ll reap the benefits in the long run.
We encourage a collaborative workspace. As the old adage goes, “two heads are better than one” and that saying continues to compound in truth. However, there’s a catch: while surrounding yourself with people can be extremely useful, it’s important to surround yourself with the right people. Keep a keen sense of character and work ethic when choosing office-mates, because it’s easy to get dragged down by a deadbeat, a scoundrel or a classic idiot. Surround yourself with hard-working, like-minded people who you can get along with and you’ll see an undeniable spike in your productivity.
Let’s face it: nobody likes feeling cramped. There’s nothing worse than squeezing three people into the backseat of a Prius or being the last person to wedge their way into a crowded metro car. Your workspace is no different. Everyone needs enough room to spread their wings and let their creativity roam free, so make sure that there’s enough space between you and the desk/cubicle/pod/couch/etc. next to you. Working with other people is fine — in fact, we encourage it — but not when it’s on top of one another.
An ideal working environment is one where there are no distractions. It is an environment which is conducive to work. In addition to this, there should be proper food and drink provided so that when working hard the employees health does not suffer in any way. Having a balanced diet is something which is very important.
When you are asked this question be sure to state that an ideal working environment is one where all the employees are given praise when it is due to them. No one constantly tries to put them down just for a tiny mistake which they might have made when getting a job done. After all, we are just human beings and not gods. Making mistakes is something which is natural.
An interview is where you have to really show all that you have to offer. If you are unable to put your best foot forward then a good job opportunity will slip through your hands. On being asked this question state that an ideal working environment is one where people are ever willing to help you if you are in trouble. They assist you whenever you are feeling low or down. It is the job of company’s boss to ensure his company runs as a well-oiled machine.
An ideal working environment is most obviously one where all the employees work unanimously as a team. No one is trying to get ahead, by putting the next one down. It is rather unfortunate that the business world is rather famous for being cutthroat. State in your answer that though you are someone who would love to get ahead and be successful in your career, you would never consider even for a moment doing something like this. You would consider a working environment as ideal if everyone was secure in their own position and work collectively for the good of the company.
All employees have the dream of getting ahead in the company which they are working for. As long as promotions are carried out in a free and fair manner employees do not feel bad. The moment employees understand that promotions are being given based on favoritism then that is the thing which is going to make them feel betrayed. When you are asked this question by the recruiter state that you believe an ideal working environment is one where merit is rewarded at all times. There is no discriminated on the basis of caste creed or sex. Saying this will really show you to be someone who is very clear-sighted and morally righteous.
It is very unfortunate that nowadays most companies are very closed about what they are doing. It is because of this lack of transparency where corruption is on the rampant. Once the employees are aware of the fact that such corruption is taking place behind closed doors it is unlikely that they will be feeling like giving their best towards the company. State in your answer that you are someone who values honesty and integrity above everything else and it is for this reason that you consider an ideal working environment one where there is no corruption of any kind.
There are many companies where the seniors simply refuse to help the newcomers, this is mainly because they want to establish their superiority and secondly because they fear that the newcomers will get better than them and replace them in the time to come. Once asked this question you should state that you believe an ideal working environment is one where the seniors are very helpful and supportive to the newcomers. All employee neither young or old shouldn’t be made to feel inferior in any manner. State that you are someone who would be always willing to help a fresher if you were in a position of advantage.
Workplace violence is something which is more common than you might think. There are many employees especially women who often feel very threatened and worried when they walk into their place of work. Due to the fear playing on these victims minds they are unable to bring out the best in themselves. When the person taking your interviewer asks you this question, state that an ideal working environment is one where no one has any kind of fear playing on their mind. A working environment should be well guarded by armed securities, who know exactly what to do when trouble of any kind breaks out.
It is often said that only people who are silly and very narrow-minded indulge in gossip. People who are brimming with new ideas and dreams never have time for such pettiness. So when the recruiter of the companies asks you such a question in the course of your interview, do state that an ideal working environment is one where people are constantly so preoccupied with their work and projects at hand that they never sit around ideally gossiping about people who they don’t like. State boldly that you are someone who never indulges in things like this because you find it very low.
In any office whether small or big, there is always some extent of workplace politics. In some companies, the workplace politics is of a positive kind but in other companies, the workplace politics is a very unhealthy and bad kind. On being asked this question you should surely make a mention of the fact that an ideal working environment for you is one where there is certainly healthy competition. After all healthy competition makes people rise to the occasion and bring out the best in themselves. Unhealthy workplace politics makes some meek people feel both vulnerable and insecure.
When you are asked this question pertaining to an ideal working environment, do make it a point to state that an ideal working environment is one where the employees are given the freedom to think outside the box without having any kind of fear in mind. There are many companies which try and curb the creativity of the employees by telling them to always go by the books, yet a company which has an ideal working environment will not instill such fear in the minds of those who are working under them. Employees should be taught that failure is something which is a part of life which cannot be run away from.
An ideal work environment extends beyond physical things like comfortable chairs and air-conditioning. It is an environment where there is a lot of positivity and employees are really encouraged at all points in time. If a working atmosphere is very repulsive and negative then employees are never going to feel like doing the best they can do. All employees should be adequately rewarded when they happen to do a task well. If the employees are never given bonuses or incentives then they will see no need to push the boundaries and excel at every task which is handed to them.
Believe it or not, having the right kind of light is very important in the workplace. If the office is poorly lit up then chances are that the employees too are likely to feel very restless and sleepy. So when the interviewer asks you this question do not forget to include this point in your answer as well. It may seem like a small or insignificant thing to say, but if you at least make a mention of it, your interviewer is sure to understand that you are someone who takes in to account even the smallest of things. Lighting is something that instantly makes a person feel awake or sleepy, so it does help in setting a working environment.
Good quality work is never produced in an atmosphere or environment of noise or chaos. All individuals need to function in a calm and stress-free manner in order to bring out the best in themselves. So the candidate must answer by saying that an ideal working environment is one which is quiet and peaceful so that the employees are really able to get in touch with their inner thoughts as well as feelings. Good companies are those where the manager is able to enforce strict discipline so that no one thinks it is alright to shout or talk loudly.
If a boss of a company wants his company to do well and flourish, it is very important that he should be willing to spend some of the company profits on technology. It is no secret that we are living in a technological age and if companies do not keep up with the changing times it is unlikely that they will be able to compete properly with other leading businesses. So in the course of your answer, do mention that an ideal working environment is one where there is proper infrastructure available for the employees so that they are able to do all their work in a proper and time efficient manner.
When you are asked this question in the course of an interview, it is very important that at the start of your answer you talk about the physical aspect of things. You must begin by stating an ideal work environment is one which is kept clean and tidy. No individual likes working in an environment which is dirty and unhygienic. Keeping the office clean is not merely the responsibility of the cleaning staff, but it is the responsibility of everyone working in the company as well. Saying this will really leave a good impression in the mind of the person taking your interview.
The layout should facilitate economies in handling materials, work-in-progress and finished stock. Handling should be reduced by the optimal use of hoists, chutes, trucks lifts, conveyors etc.
Manufacturing, maintenance, and servicing facilities should be easily accessible without any hindrance. To achieve this purpose, there must be sufficient space between equipment so that raw materials, machines, and men are able to move freely from one place to another.
Manufacturing operations are dynamic in nature. There is continuous innovation in types of products manufactured as well as in equipment, techniques, and processes of production. Therefore the layout should be designed in such a way that the layout is flexible enough to adapt to changes.
Real estate costs are rising by the day. An ideal layout should utilize the available space in an effective way. Wastage of space should be avoided at all costs. The arrangement of equipment, service points and workers should be done in such a way that space is properly utilized.
Have team-bonding activities that let the team focus on the positive sides of each member and negate the negative ones. Celebrate events like birthdays for each member of your team to show the exclusivity. Deal with issues together. Basically, whatever it is that you do, do it as a team.
As social beings, we naturally seek support from our peers and seek to belong to a group. Come tough times, the team should come together to deal with whatever problems are out there. This is where a sense of unity is evoked in the team and employees will no longer just feel that they’re working for themselves. They are now working towards something bigger than themselves and as a team.
Apart from having a system of monetary rewards in place to award those who perform at work, daily interactions can also be a good means of recognizing efforts. It’s free too! Managers ought to verbalize their appreciations for simple little things when employees go the extra mile. However, these should be made specific and personal for the employee to feel that what they do are being taken seriously and appreciated.
A reward here doesn’t have to be monetary in nature. Sometimes even a simple verbal recognition by the supervisor is all that is necessary to spur the employees’ motivation.
Rewards are necessary to encourage certain behaviors in persons. This is known as positive reinforcement under operant conditioning in the field of psychology. It is used in organizational behavior management as well: by rewarding employees who put in an effort for their work, this will promote similar behaviors in the future.
In a time when change is more rampant than ever before, it is necessary for organizations to keep abreast with the changes and train their employees accordingly.
Good employees or workers are often defined as those who put in loads of effort and sacrificed their personal time in order to perform well in their work. Some employees are simply workaholics who would rather neglect other aspects of their life for work.
When employees fulfill their various needs and goals in life, such as those of family, friends, spiritual pursuits, self-growth, etc, they can then feel more confident about themselves and perform their best at work. Apart from that, employees that are exposed to more experiences in life outside of work can use what they’ve gained and apply that to their work. Work-life balance can promote creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
There has to be some sort of balance between work and personal life. In general, having that sense of balance will improve job satisfaction among employees because they will feel that they’re not overlooking the other areas of their lives that are, if not more, important to them than work.
Such two-way open communication will eventually break down the hurdles present in hierarchical or bureaucratic organizations. At the end of it all, it promotes trust in day-to-day interactions between co-workers, as well as between subordinates and supervisors.
The open form of communication addresses the employee’s need to feel that what they have to say has value. It is what makes employees feel that they belong to the organization. Work then becomes meaningful because the employees know that what they contribute affects the organization that they are affiliated with.
A fun, open, energetic and creative environment can make a big difference in the overall atmosphere of a company.
Approachable leadership. The more people feel open to talking about their leadership, the more problems will get solved and the more job satisfaction people will have. It’s one of the reasons I prefer not to have an office.
Companies that only look at resumes and experience when hiring are far less successful (IMHO) than ones that hire people that are passionate about their work and the industry. I’ll hire passion over experience any day.
I’ve always felt that if people are going to spend most of their waking week at the office, it should be a fun environment. When people are having fun, they work together better and they produce better work.
Be open on how your employees can see you as a leader.
Great places to work are open to how the company is performing.
Simply put, if you show that you are going to do great work, your career will grow accordingly.
While politics are always going to happen in a work environment, great companies have very little of it and work hard to stomp it out when it creeps up.
Collaboration creates better work, better results, and better culture.
As an employee of a company, you should have the ability to change career paths if you’ve proven you’re a dependable, hard-working and passionate person.
A leader must be the person that will guide his subordinates not only for the success of the company but also for themselves.
Employees want to know where the company is pointed, what the company believes in and what everyone is working toward.
A top organization practices strong core values based on integrity. These values need to be more than words in a human resources manual; management personnel should practice these values in daily functions and require all employees to do the same.
Workers in a top organization have easy access to the resources they need to complete their tasks. Whenever possible, educational resources are also available to help workers develop their skills so they can become even more valuable to the organization.
A great workplace contains an atmosphere that evokes a strong sense of community throughout the entire organization, not just within smaller team units. Employees feel that they are part of a group of superior people who are pulling together for the common good.
Supervisors in a great workplace offer frequent and constructive feedback to employees. The purpose of the feedback is to help employees identify and understand areas of needed improvement as opposed to chastising them for mistakes.
A small business flourishes when management fosters an atmosphere of open communication. When you communicate with your employees, you gain valuable insights regarding the work atmosphere, such as learning about small problems before they can escalate. To encourage open communication, ask your supervisors to make themselves visible instead of remaining behind a closed office door for the entire day or put out regular newsletters to keep employees abreast of the latest company developments.
A major factor in the success of your business is your ability to innovate. Innovation allows you to stay one step ahead of the competition and prevent product or service stagnation. Your employees are an excellent resource for innovative ideas, so be sure to seek their input and reward them for their creativity.
The best organization is one that treats every employee fairly. To that end, the rules are enforced in the same manner for all workers, from rank-and-file members to top management, without the appearance of favoritism or provision of special privileges.
Great small businesses permit their workers a great deal of autonomy regarding how they perform specific job tasks. The idea behind this autonomy is that the more freedom and input the worker has in performing her job, the greater meaning it will have to her, which increases her motivation to do the job well.
A great organization stresses teamwork while still encouraging individual achievement and creativity. Great small business owners and managers have the ability to blend the individual talents of their staff members into a team concept.
A great workplace has a clear and specific purpose for existing which is captured in its mission statement. Employees have a clear understanding of this purpose and are enlightened by management staff as to how their roles help to achieve the company’s mission.
It is no coincidence that the root word of “culture” is “cult.” Today, people identify themselves by the communities and social groups to which they belong. Create an environment where team members truly feel connected. Ideally, this starts with an intensive hiring process and a culture that states that you only work with people who are the best at what they do. Those individuals who make the cut will feel like they’ve made it into your company’s inner circle.
We’ve all heard it before: “People don’t leave companies, they leave managers.” Managers should prepare their team members for success by establishing clear objectives for each employee and by connecting these goals directly to the goals of the team/department and the company as a whole.
If your employees don’t feel like they are growing in a meaningful way, both personally and professionally, they won’t be around for long. However, if they’re immersed in a growth culture and feel like the company and their managers want them to get better for their own sake (not just the company’s), real magic will occur.
Work-life balance is a thing of the past. To truly flourish today, companies need a workspace that allows for work-life integration by creating a seamless experience for employees both in and out of the office. Your workspace ought to be a place where employees actually want to spend their time and should be set up to encourage behaviors that support your company’s values.
As human beings, there are few things we crave more than significance. Genuine recognition, both one-on-one and in front of peers, is a great way to let people know that they matter and are appreciated. Awesome companies create systems to ensure that recognition is consistently flowing and ingrained into their culture.
When you articulate the purpose behind your brand and product, that vision serves as a framework and guiding principle for every decision your employees make. It inspires them to think of creative solutions for your customers.
Authentic leaders consistently present a clear vision for their company, are comfortable being vulnerable with their team and are genuine in both their communication and actions.
The company offers comprehensive health insurance, with weight-loss, smoking-cessation, and substance-abuse programs. The corporate cafeteria features a low-fat menu, and the company gym is stocked with exercise equipment.
People need acknowledgment, appreciation, and gratitude to be motivated. Genuine compliments, rewards, bonuses, raises, promotions, and certificates of achievement are oil in the machinery. The company thanks, employees regularly in these ways.
The company and its employees embrace change, accommodate new trends and technology, and incorporate new skills. They know if they don’t, the business will end up a dinosaur. As the saying goes, “Change is the only constant.”
Kindness and understanding prevail when employees face challenges such as accidents, illnesses, personal tragedies, and natural disasters. People will usually go the extra mile for others when they’re treated well and with understanding, compassion, and respect.
Employees keep things in perspective, have fun, and laugh. Laughter generates endorphins, our natural antidepressants.
Can do, go the extra mile and win-win attitudes are evident. Employees have a sense of camaraderie, cooperation, and empowerment. Healthy competition exists without vengeful, spiteful backstabbing.
Everyone communicates in a cards-on-the-table manner, solving difficulties in a positive way. They don’t play nasty revenge games when given difficult feedback. Instead, they view feedback as an opportunity for growth.
Employees give 200%. They strive to be the best and to deliver top-quality products and services. They take responsibility for their actions and decisions.
People enjoy coming to work and feel appreciated, acknowledged and rewarded. Signs of fear, domination, bullying, sexual harassment, and intimidation are absent. Creativity, productivity, and thinking outside the box flourish.
A positive mission statement outlines the goals and demonstrative behavior that exemplify the highest commitment to quality and service to each other, the company, customers, and shareholders. The company sets out to achieve its goals in ethical, honest ways with an elevated sense of purpose to improving the planet and humanity.
Everyone likes to feel valued and appreciated for what they do every day. An attitude of gratitude goes a long way. Offer respect, kindness, openness, caring, and trust and you will be sure to reap the returns many times over.
Everyone likes to feel valued and appreciated for what they do everyday. An attitude of gratitude goes a long way.
Be liberal with positive feedback and show gratitude when employees go above and beyond their normal duties and responsibilities.
There are all sorts of ways to provide rewards, including praise, recognition, money, prizes, gift cards, celebratory meals, trophies and certificates of achievement.
Post regular reports around the office or in your newsletter. Recognize everyone for their hard work and dedication.
You will build trust and form a bond when you share common goals and activities for the good of others.
You will build trust and form a bond when you share common goals and activities for the good of others.
Take on a charity campaign and encourage your co-workers to participate in fundraising events, a charity race or a Habitat for Humanity project.
Work together for a larger good.
Most people feel good when they’re helping others.
Get to know each other outside of the office. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn more about what makes them tick and you’ll develop even stronger bonds when you discover you have shared interests.
Develop relationships outside of work.
Go to lunch with your co-workers or plan an off-site event like a bowling night or a day at the ballpark.
Take time to learn about their families and their goals. When you show a genuine interest in others, you foster a happier workplace.
Exchange ideas and personal opinions. Show your empathy and concern for their well being as people, as well as co-workers
Connect on a personal level.
Develop meaningful bonds with your fellow workers.
Encourage your co-workers to share their thoughts and be open to hearing them all the way through without interrupting or interjecting your own opinions.
Practice active listening.
Effective communication begins with active listening.
Respect that they have different opinions and ways of looking at the world.
Look at each and every person as a vital member of the team.
Treat everyone with respect.Everyone you work with deserves respect in the workplace, even when you differ on opinions.
A positive or negative attitude also spills over into how your customers perceive your business, which translates into their willingness to do business with you. They can tell when everything is clicking, and they can also tell when things are amiss.
A positive attitude is key to an enjoyable, more comfortable workplace.
When you own your own company, your co-workers and employees look to you to set the tone for the business and the office environment.
A positive or negative attitude also spills over into how your customers perceive your business, which translates into their willingness to do business with you. They can tell when everything is clicking, and they can also tell when things are amiss.
A positive attitude is a key to an enjoyable, more comfortable workplace.
When you own your own company, your co-workers and employees look to you to set the tone for the business and the office environment.
Let’s face it, whether we mainly hire freelance help or manage a large office staff, we all have to work with people. Your company will run like a well-oiled machine if you learn to create positive relationships with your colleagues and co-workers.
Keeping employees happy and productive requires frequent and open communication, regular recognition of achievements, and constructive feedback,
Offering your employees generous salaries and flexible vacation policies might make you a popular boss in the short term, but research shows that what workers really value extends beyond the usual job perks.
Make sure you are at a comfortable temperature but avoid becoming too comfortable or you may switch into relax mode. and begin thinking about something else. A refreshing breeze can be useful when you are having trouble focusing.
When you are feeling warm a nice cool breeze can keep you refreshed and when you are cold heat will give you a fuzzy feeling inside.
When you are feeling warm a nice cool breeze can keep you refreshed and when you are cold heat will give you a fuzzy feeling inside.
The best place to work is someplace new so you can make your own productive mindset around that area.
If you have a bad memory that happened somewhere in your house you may not want to study there as it may bring up those feelings again, or just depress you in general.
For example your bed room is likely a bad place to work as your subconscious mind associates being there with relaxing.
Try to do the same for your study space. Avoid places where you have been un-productive before.
It’s interesting how being certain places can strike up certain feelings. For example, re-visiting where you played as a kid may make you happier.
It’s interesting how being certain places can strike up certain feelings. For example, re-visiting where you played as a kid may make you happier.
Plants are also helpful, You can pick one you like and nurture it, while it gives you a steady stream of oxygen. Useful in a stuffy room, It just helps you stay focused.
If they help create a positive work environment It’s worth it anyways. Bringing a little more uniqueness to the area may help you feel more comfortable working there.
Having a few photos, artwork, ceramic pigs, or whatever trinket you may like may not be directly productive.
If you must check your e-mails while your working delay until it’s necessary as that would give you a better chance of only having to check once.
If you know a roommate plays loud music then set up your study space down the hall. If there is nothing to distract you it’s a lot easier to get through something as you don’t have to go back and redo the calculation or try to remember what you had planned out for the next sentence.
. Make sure you aren’t looking at a busy street or have a view of the kitchen or other busy places.
While checking your e-mails, or who walked past may only lose you a couple seconds you also lose your train of thought and focus.
They say that curiosity killed the cat, It also kills productivity.
Music may make you feel good but usually it doesn’t help. Neither does a blaring TV, someone walking past or your e-mail inbox.
When you are in a neat and tidy working environment without grime or dirt it’s much easier to focus. Try a shower or even just putting on a clean shirt may make you feel refreshed and ready to work.
Just get some baskets, a filing cabinet system or drawers. Clean is equally important.
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Trying to find something is never productive.
Dining room chairs usually have nice back support but lack in the comfort, where a fluffy living room chair gives you all the comfort you need and leaves you leaning forward, or spending to much time relaxing. Try to find a balance in between the two. Most office chairs work fine.
Getting an ergonomic chair for your desk may be expensive and it certainly isn’t necessary. Find a chair that is comfortable to sit on but keeps your back straight and gives you good back support.
try to find a balance between the two, or a dimmer would be Ideal. Even a small table lamp you can turn on to read a paper document better would be useful. Having light helps you feel less stressed and allows you to concentrate on what you are doing without any strain or discomfort.
ry to find a balance between the two, or a dimmer would be Ideal. Even a small table lamp you can turn on to read a paper document better would be useful. Having light helps you feel less stressed and allows you to concentrate on what you are doing without any strain or discomfort.
Having a good light source is important for using your important, and natural light is quite refreshing, But If you have a dim monitor or if it’s too bright to see your computer screen easily there is a problem.
Creating a positive working environment is high on the list of every entrepreneur who wants his employees to work better and with pleasure. Even small details can impact their productivity and performance, so everything, from the temperature in an office to team-building events, is significant for crafting a workplace and keeping your colleagues motivated.
Happy employees are good employees. Remember that, and you’ll become a leader of the best-performing team ever.
Psychologists agree on a fundamental human motivation such as the need to belong, which is our emotional need to be accepted by members of a group affecting our behavior.
Changing a working environment for a day or two can boost inspiration and motivation.
People are social beings, and that is why communication plays a significant role in our comfort. Encouraging your employees to socialize, you will enhance their creativity and productivity at work.
We all need the motivation to perform better. With that in mind, try to support your employees for initiatives by creating a system of bonuses that would inspire them.
Self-development is essential for our career growth. To stay competitive, you need to work on improving your skills, as well as provide your employees with opportunities to do the same: seminars, conferences, MOOCs, and courses are the ways to grow professionally.
“The strength of the team is each member. The strength of each member is the team.”
Team building enhances social relations between staff members, creating the positive working environment between them.
To enhance productivity, pay attention to your workplace: a table, all-in-one PC, comfortable chair, notebooks for drafts, and even a plant. Everything should be at hand as it influences your performance at work.
Health depends on far more factors than nutrition only.
A healthy diet is scientifically proven to affect our physical condition, so people should take care of nutrition. Simple as that.
Color has long been proven to affect people’s productivity at work. The Color Effects System, developed by world-renown color psychologist Angela Wright, determines that while individuals might have certain preferences for color, the effects of color influence people universally.
Another no-brainer, but keeping a clutter-free desk will greatly increase productivity and organization. As a manager, it can be difficult to enforce a “clean desk” policy, but you can encourage employees to scan documents for a more paperless desk.
You could team up with health and wellbeing experts, such as dieticians, personal trainers and mental health professionals to offer advice, recipes, and information for staff to encourage a healthy lifestyle.
As managers, leaders and business owners, there is a duty of care and responsibility to look after the health and wellbeing of your team. Sometimes work can be stressful, which is to be expected, but working in a tense or stressful atmosphere can impact a person’s mental wellbeing and feelings of happiness; therefore, try to keep the environment as positive and cheerful as possible. Happy employees tend to be more productive ones too!
Encourage employees to take ten minutes out of each day to relax by creating a ‘relaxation zone’ in a quiet area of the office. This area could feature relaxing music, books, magazines and comfortable furniture providing your employees with a real opportunity to relax.
Air, light and other elements around the office environment can be overlooked when designing an office environment or layout. However, factors such as indoor air quality can impact employee concentration, energy level, and mood, with poor air quality accounting for an average 9 percent loss of productivity in the workplace.
Too much caffeine can cause dehydration and fatigue, which could affect employee concentration and performance. By installing water coolers around the office, you can encourage employees to stay hydrated. It’s so easy for people to forget to keep hydrated when they’re busy – so place them in key places such as near desks, in meeting rooms, in the kitchen/canteen. You can read our blog on the importance of staying hydrated here.
Find every opportunity you can to keep employees moving in their daily routines, whether it’s getting up from their chairs once every hour or using the stairs instead of the lifts. You could even be more creative by adding standing workstations for interested employees, or try exercise balls rather than office chairs for staff who sit much of the day, to encourage movement!
Encourage healthier lifestyles by introducing a cycle to work scheme, or build a connection with a local gym to provide an employee gym membership benefit.
To encourage employees to be healthier at work, make sure vending machines and business meetings are stocked with healthier options, such as water, nuts, and fruit. A weekly ‘free fruit box’ delivery could be seen as a perk of the job whilst also encouraging team members to eat healthier.
In the workplace, ergonomics means adjusting the work environment and work practices to prevent any injuries before they occur.
Making your office a healthier place can be as simple as introducing plants in the office, which can help to increase productivity by absorbing unhealthy toxins from the environment and replacing it with oxygen2.
Personalize things on your desk will help and motivate you in working every day!
Your entire team has great ideas. They’re in the trenches all day, bringing their own experience and perspectives to the part of the project they’re focused on.
One of the biggest complaints from employees is that they don’t feel appreciated. The second someone gives us a “nice job” or “you made a difference on this project,” we feel like we matter in a way that gives our work a sense of purpose. If you’re not so inclined to give out verbal gold stars, an easy place to start is with a simple “thank you.”
Ever hear of the Hawthorne effect? It’s the increase in productivity in the workplace when people feel that they are cared about. It makes people happy to be asked how they are and for you to take a little time to find out how things are going in their lives. That doesn’t mean spending hours at the water cooler having conversations about people’s lives. It means remembering to take the time to say, “How are you”.
We have a tendency not to focus on the big picture when we are really busy. This prevents us from creating perks or planning fun events that make the workplace happier. Treat people to something surprisingly good and fun. A day at the amusement park, a movie in the afternoon with popcorn and candy, chair massages. Anything you can think of to make people feel that you are doing something nice for them will make people feel happier.
Make a point of encouraging people to say hi to each other. Sounds simple but it is actually an incredible way to build a sense of workplace community and something that busy focused people forget. Start by making it a policy to have your executives and managers make sure to take the time to say hi. Choose ambassadors from all different levels and areas of your company to do the same. Acknowledging people can change the entire atmosphere and make your workplace be a much nicer place.
You can have a happy workplace if you take the time to make it a happy workplace. Hire happy people. Don’t get caught up in focusing on the negative and make sure to do the little things that make a difference in people’s lives. It won’t be a major cultural change at first but I can promise you that slowly but surely, your workplace will become a better place and people will do better work.
That should make you very happy.
Do something to give back to your community or to the world. Having a company-wide initiative that makes a difference will make people feel connected to the greater good. Take a poll. Find out what people care about and get their opinions on how best to accomplish those goals.
Lots of places get caught up in the negative. They debrief by going over what didn’t work. Turn that around. Focus on the positive. That doesn’t mean that you should ignore the things that need to be improved on, it just means that when you are looking for the good, you will find the good. If you look for the bad, everything will seem bleak.
Lots of places get caught up in the negative. They debrief by going over what didn’t work. Turn that around. Focus on the positive. That doesn’t mean that you should ignore the things that need to be improved on, it just means that when you are looking for the good, you will find the good. If you look for the bad, everything will seem bleak.
Part of the secret to being happy at work is to encourage people to have personal career goals. When people feel that they are working toward something, the day-to-day politics and stresses of the workplace don’t matter as much. Each challenging day can be better tolerated because it is a means to a personal end. People are able to separate themselves from their jobs and not become mired in the negativity when they are focused on reaching personal goals.
Ever hear of the Hawthorne effect? It’s the increase in productivity in the workplace when people feel that they are cared about. It makes people happy to be asked how they are and for you to take a little time to find out how things are going in their lives. That doesn’t mean spending hours at the water cooler having conversations about people’s lives. It means remembering to take the time to say, “How are you”.
We have a tendency not to focus on the big picture when we are really busy. This prevents us from creating perks or planning fun events that make the workplace happier. Treat people to something surprisingly good and fun. A day at the amusement park, a movie in the afternoon with popcorn and candy, chair massages. Anything you can think of to make people feel that you are doing something nice for them will make people feel happier.
Make a point of encouraging people to say hi to each other. Sounds simple but it is actually an incredible way to build a sense of workplace community and something that busy focused people forget.
Hiring people who are going to help make your workplace happier will take a little thought and preparation. It is natural to focus on relevant experience and past achievements when interviewing a candidate. And you are right to want those things for your company. But ignoring the personality is a mistake.
Create a sense of community by organizing social events outside of work hours. This could be a drink after work on Friday, a Christmas meal at a restaurant or a trip to the bowling alley. Social events allow co-workers to get to know each other better. This can lead to enhanced teamwork and cooperation. However, no one should feel under pressure to take part in social activities and some employees may not be able to attend due to other commitments.
If space allows, provide an area where your staff can relax during breaks. This area should be separate from the places where people work. Furnish the rest area with chairs, tables, and comfortable sofas. Allow your employees to eat lunch there, and add a rack of magazines for them to read.
If space allows, provide an area where your staff can relax during breaks. This area should be separate from the places where people work. Furnish the rest area with chairs, tables, and comfortable sofas. Allow your employees to eat lunch there, and add a rack of magazines for them to read.
Learn when to unwind and have a good time!
Parties, after work hours, and easy opportunities to relax and unwind are important when fostering a creative, inclusive environment. Facebook is one of the best when it comes to this, with fully stocked bars in the building, parties on a weekly basis and more.
This is my office. It’s cozy, it’s small and it’s in my attic. It’s also one of my favorite places to work.
While not everyone has the freedom to work at home, everyone should be given the opportunity, at least on occasion. The relaxation and freedom it offers are perfect for some people.
This should come as no surprise. Pixar’s offices are a temple to creative thinking and freedom of expression.
This is just looking at some of the dozens of cool things Pixar’s animators, designers, and writers experience every day at work. From homey offices to lounge lighting, and themed offices from their movies, there’s nothing “normal” about working for Pixar.
Special event or not, Zappos has put together a heck of an office environment. Trees, plants, and all things green not only bring some much-needed vibrancy to normally bland, dull cubicles, but they bridge that gap between indoor and outdoor that is often nearly impossible for a professional desk jockey.
Let’s strip things down a bit and talk about “coworking.”
While the world’s biggest tech and marketing firms are showing off all the cool things they do for their employees, there are start-ups and small businesses finding their own way to bust out of the mold.
Architecture is on full display in many of the world’s biggest and most impressive new offices.
It’s a web services and software company, and sure, there are weeks when employees won’t see their children, but Google’s campuses are legendary for making all those extra hours as bearable as possible.
I could show you a picture of quite literally any of the offices on this list and it’d fit the bill, but there has been a huge movement toward the “home away from home” style of office design.
There’s something innately calming about the outdoors. Of course, actually sitting in the park with your laptop is icky, with bugs invading your space and squirrels begging for the leftovers of your bagel.
Sitting all day isn’t the healthiest thing for you, but slouching all day is even worse. Posture is very important, both to health and to workplace performance.
One of the most important things you can do during the workday is to not eat at your desk.
The smell of citrus can lift your spirits and improve thinking and memory.
Decorating your desk can help you feel comfortable, which can reduce workplace stress and dissatisfaction, Augustin says. But to avoid a cluttered feeling, which can actually cause more stress, stick with just a few items.
Bringing nature into your office can be a great way to inspire creativity and a feeling of wellness.
Shades of green have been linked to enhanced creative thinking, says Sally Augustin, Ph.D., an environmental psychologist, and principal at Design With Science.
If your workplace allows it, switching to a standing desk can help you sit less and move more during the day. But being on your feet all day can also lead to aches and pains, so look for a setup that allows you to adjust the height or your work station and use a chair when needed.
It’s not unusual for office environments to trigger what’s known as occupational allergies—sensitivities to chemicals in carpet, office furniture, or paint, for example, that can trigger problems like headaches and rashes.
People who work at desks should stand or walk around for at least two hours a day to avoid health risks related to too much sitting, according to a 2015 British study.
You spend about half of your waking hours at your job. While certain jobs like construction or manual labor have clear hazards, you can’t assume that if you are clocking time in an office environment that it’s a healthy place to be. Many occupations deliver stress, sedentary behavior, and unhealthy habits along with the paycheck, which can take their toll both physically and mentally.
The unified environment allows people to operate as individuals but still focus on succeeding as a team. This type of environment usually sets “team” goals and allows people to work together in smaller groups to accomplish team tasks.
This environment favors honest feedback above all other forms of communication. When a worker needs to improve, he or she is told about it.
The no-walls environment is all about keeping the team together.
In an individual-focused environment, the office offers individuals the flexibility to customize their own working styles.
In a skeptical environment, everything is questioned because questions are encouraged.
Today’s drive towards a healthier happier workforce is supported by a mass of evidence. Many organizations are already seeing the benefits of offering their team perks like a free gym membership, fitness wearables and sit-stand desking. Embracing more active ways of working like walking meetings is also a great way to promote healthier employees.
The furniture in your office space is more important than you might think. The welfare of your employees is greatly impacted by your furniture offering. Choose office furniture that will keep your people comfortable and healthy. Choosing good quality furniture will ensure the longevity of your office space.
Today’s talent pool is looking for more than wages and employee perks. Flexible working, both in terms of location and time spent in the office is a growth for a good reason. Allowing employees a flexible approach to their work-life balance helps them to work more effectively and gain better results for your organization.
Office lighting is imperative to the productivity of your people. Correct lighting helps to combat fatigue and enhances wellbeing.
Good acoustics are important in any space. Ensure that excess noise is deadened by installing textured panels, desk screens or partitioning. Help your people to concentrate and produce their best work.
Your office space should be easy to access. This includes everything from intuitive lifts in a multi-storey building to sufficient parking or suitable transport links.
The technology in your workspace needs to be up-to-date and facilitating the best work from your people. We’re not talking about the latest and greatest on the tech scene, but an IT provision that offers your staff everything they need to get their job done.
A great office would never be complete without a range of different personalities. Variety is the spice of life and this is certainly true when referring to people. A mix of characters brings a mix of skills to the table, enabling your business to grow in ways that you would never have thought possible.
Within any intelligently designed office space will be a collection of spaces that facilitate the range of activities that are performed by your workforce. This could include private zones for high-concentration tasks, or informal meeting spaces for team catch-ups or meetings.
A productive workspace will have been intelligently designed to help your people do their best work. Promote creativity, collaboration and focussed working with an intelligent office design.
Communication is one of the most important aspects of business, and indeed life itself. Nurturing excellent communication is within reach of every organization. Ensure that your workspace is designed to help your people communicate and collaborate effectively. Be like Google and design your workspace to enhance the happening of Chance Encounters.
A Positive team spirit will be born out of good people combining forces to work towards a greater goal. Without team spirit, good people are almost wasted. There’s an African Proverb; ‘If you want to go fast go alone if you want to go far go together’. If you have a good team spirit in your organization, the possibilities are endless.
Your people are what really make up your organization. A successful organization doesn’t happen without great people. An effective talent retention and attraction strategy will help you to hold onto your best team players and recruit new ones as your company grows and develops.
If you can make this alternative work environment practical for your business, it’s a fantastic, innovative way to conduct the day
Far too many offices are set up with little to no focus on how work is actually performed in the space. Maybe the copier is where it is because there were an available power supply and room for it to fit.
Employee productivity (and your own) can only go so far as their physical body can carry them.
It might seem like a small detail, but you can expect an overall big improvement in the atmosphere of your office. Increased productivity won’t be far behind.
What “sound control” means for your small business environment is going to be very specific to you, so we won’t issue too much general advice, save to say that taking time to address sound flow in the workplace is never time wasted.
There’s no question that a well-thought-out office offers clear returns. Some people look at staff as a cost, some look at staff as an investment, but either way, at some point you’re going to have to spend something. An activity-based setting doesn’t have to cost more, it just has to be better thought out
Make no assumptions. Never start by saying ‘this is a tech firm so it does x, this is a financial firm so it does y’. Start with a real focus on each individual business
People tend to say they just want a space that works! The key is to remember, like any system, it’s about energy in and energy out. Well-meaning people create a brief saying ‘This is what we want’ but anything that’s assumption-based rather than evidence-based will only give a cursory solution. We work with evidence
A good design reflects the culture of the business. The key is having spaces that reflect a culture of everything that motivates and drives people.
Spend a few minutes remembering and visualizing a time when you were really enjoying yourself.
Do something kind for someone else (especially someone who wouldn’t expect it). Offer to help them with something, give them a snack or treat, or simply ask them how their evening or weekend was or about something going on in their life.
Do something kind for someone else (especially someone who wouldn’t expect it). Offer to help them with something, give them a snack or treat, or simply ask them how their evening or weekend was or about something going on in their life.
Write down five things you are grateful for at work – then share at least one with a coworker.
Add some light fun by picking a day for a dress-up or desk-decorating theme – ex. hat day, wild sock day, or decorating with flowers, pictures of tropical places, etc.
If you have a meeting with only one or two other people, make it a walking meeting; get outside and get your blood pumping.
When someone disagrees with you about something at work, think “how interesting” instead of immediately getting defensive.
Anonymously post a positive quote or picture by the copier, coffee machine or somewhere else that receives high foot traffic so that others can see.
Find some occasion to celebrate with others, whether it be a project milestone, birthday, new house, etc. Pass around a card for people to sign or make a sign.
Start a meeting off by sharing something positive that is going on in your group, project, work etc. Encourage others to do the same.
Post a new upbeat poster, picture or quote at your desk where everyone can see it.
Smile and say “Hi” to twice as many people as you normally would – but be genuine in your smile.
Thank Someone for something they did but weren’t expecting to get thanked for – be specific about what it was and why it was helpful or important; be sure to copy their boss.
Compliment your co-workers.
If you work with a lot of people around you, germs can easily spread and getting sick is always a setback to productivity. Your health is important to staying focused and maintaining a positive attitude while working. To prevent yourself from becoming ill, be sure that your work environment stays sterile.
Many academic studies have argued that there is a correlation between certain scents and memories. Although individuals can have widely divergent emotional responses to scents, studies show that certain scents can change our emotions and improve our moods.
If you are stuck in an office with florescent lights, it can be stuffy and make you feel trapped.
Screen-time can be a huge part of our work lives and day to day activities.
Be sure to take little breaks and look away from your screen, for even a moment, before heading back to work.
It is more important to be comfortable and find yourself in a position that maintains good posture.
Drinking 6-8 cups a water a day can be hard to keep track of, and for some people, water is a pain to drink. Try to simply keep a water bottle with you at your desk or in your to-go bag.
Checklists keep you on track.
It seems simple, but being aware of how comfortable you are as you work is important.
Keep a record of your weekly events, whether they are meetings, scheduled interviews or phone calls
Keep a structure and start every day the same. This may help keep you on track as your tasks may vary throughout the day.
After attending work-related meetings, write a brief summary of what was discussed. This will help you remember what was said in case you need to reference anything that was discussed in the future.
Keep your phone or your chatrooms on silent while completing an urgent task. Remove objects that you know will be a distraction to you as you work.
Make sure you plug yourself back in when your work is over. Being social is healthy.
It doesn’t take a psychologist to tell you that when you are in an area that is attractive, comfortable, and pleasant, you feel better.
Not only does natural lighting look better, but there is a strong connection between natural light in the workplace and employees’ quality of sleep and energy.
If you have a positive response to a certain smell, why not apply it to your work environment and create a more positive atmosphere for yourself while you work?
If you work with a lot of people around you, germs can easily spread and getting sick is always a setback to productivity.
We all have that one room, that one corner of the house, or that desk drawer that holds mysterious items and all of our miscellaneous objects. It becomes our black hole of unrelated things…but there’s nothing ‘out of this world’ about it. It’s just plain clutter.
Different from ‘ritualizing your work environment’, personalizing your space includes placing familiar objects around you, to increase your connection to your work and work environment.
A ritual can be coming to the same space to work or starting every workday with your special Starbucks order.
Some people prefer to work within the hustle and bustle of a busy, public space. Working alone in a quiet space may seem boring to some and often shortens the length of time that you are able to sit and work.
The traditional nine-to-five, Monday-to-Friday work week isn’t necessarily the most beneficial or productive schedule for everyone.
Be realistic about the amount of work that each employee can handle. An excessive workload, which translates to burnout, is one of the top reasons that people leave jobs.
Every now and then, a change of pace is fun—and fun makes people happy and relaxed!
Workers consistently report that meetings are their biggest productivity killer.
When you give staff direction, the language you use has a big effect on how they perceive what you’re saying and their role in the work.
Consider implementing new and fun initiatives for the purpose of increasing happiness and a sense of well-being.
Employees spend a good portion of their day at their workstation, so the should have a privilege to decorate their area in ways that are personal and appealing to them.
Order food for the entire office and encourage everyone to eat together, whether it’s outdoors or in the conference room. Employees will be grateful for the perk and the act of enjoying a meal together builds camaraderie.
By providing reimbursement for expensive school costs, you’re giving them a chance to improve their skills which in turn will benefit your company.
Experiment with unusual benefits like unlimited days off.
make room for outdoor hoops or an indoor ping pong table. Team members will enjoy having a place to get a little exercise or to blow off some steam between tasks.
Employees report higher job satisfaction and are more likely to stay at a job where they feel listened to and appreciated.
Open office layouts are a necessity in many cases, but you should consider providing a few areas where employees can retreat if they need quiet or solitude to concentrate on a difficult project. It can cut down on the stress and interruptions, which improves mood and productivity.
It doesn’t take a psychologist to tell you that when you are in an area that is attractive, comfortable, and pleasant, you feel better.
Not only does natural lighting look better, but there is a strong connection between natural light in the workplace and employees’ quality of sleep and energy.
A happy workplace is not something that happens by accident.
The most successful companies tend to be the ones with the happiest employees.
A flexible work-week came into vogue during the recession, when plenty of companies – and even municipalities – looking to cut down on office expenses implemented four-day work-weeks.
When the basics of a functional office work flawlessly, and when complaints regarding technology and equipment malfunctions are answered and remedied quickly, that goes a long way to making employees satisfied with their surroundings.
It’s not right for every team of workers, but the trend today is to support collaboration, in all its forms: mentoring, problem solving, routine communication and information sharing.
Tasty Catering formed two Good to Great councils, which make all strategic decisions for the company.
Smart business leaders, however, think beyond the existing layout and furniture options when moving into a new office or refurbishing a space
Whether it’s business plans or business cards, conference binders or marketing copy, entrepreneurs have a lot of information to track.
Various elements need to be available for one to consider a working environment ideal for carrying out his activities.
when generations work together, you find a unique combination of innovation, stability, and collaboration.
hey want the help of people who’ve been through the wringer, no matter what generation they’re from.
Fifty-three percent of millennials surveyed said mentors would help them become better and more productive members of the company.
As they begin integrating into the workforce, they want people who will help them through the rough patches of starting at a new company, and guide them along the way. They want mentors.
Millennials want someone to look up to. They want someone they can trust with more than just evaluations and questions about office policy.
Millennial want to identify certain characteristics in their leaders that make them feel great about working for them.
Millennial want to identify certain characteristics in their leaders that make them feel great about working for them.
Maybe they’re amicable, think ahead, or are just plain good at what they do.
They want to work for leaders who have a human air about them – people they may not necessarily get along with, but can respect.
Looking at these traits, we can connect the dots: Millennials don’t want the distant corporate leaders of yesteryear.
They want to work for people who will inspire them to do great work. They’re not inspired by things like money or status, but rather by core competencies and personality traits
They want to work for people who will inspire them to do great work.
Millennials may have a different view of how they’d like to work, but they still respect the more experienced generations in the workforce
with all these desires, what does a millennial’s ideal work culture look like? After looking at the numbers, we think we have a pretty good idea.
Millennials want their companies to align with their values.
There are a number of things that guide millennials in the workplace. They want to be happier than their parents, find more purposeful work and work with better companies.
My ideal environment would actually involve teleworking 2-3 days a week, and the rest of the days in the office, getting meetings out of the way.
It’s also important to me that everyone pulls their weight and gets along with each other – there’s nothing worse than coming into an office every day that is stressful or tense.
My ideal work environment is peaceful yet productive – with everyone working on their own tasks, but open to helping one another when need be.
I interact regularly with a team, but am not interrupted when I need to get important tasks done.
My ideal work environment is highly structured and lacks any sort of ambiguity. Everyone has meaningful responsibilities, which they take seriously
I’d like quiet, clear directions, a cubicle, multiple monitors and many desk supplies.
My ideal work environment is one that is drama-free, with open communication. I like being aware of what’s going at all times – I don’t want to be surprised or caught off guard when major changes happen.
I honestly don’t mind working overtime to keep things running smoothly.
I like how fast-paced and varied my current work is – it’s something different every day and I’m always kept on my toes! I have to stay super organized to keep on top of everything, but that comes naturally to me
My ideal work environment involves a schedule that is followed closely by everyone, expectations that are challenging but possible to meet and good communicate between a team of hard-working people.
My ideal work environment would involve a new challenge or process to analyze and fix each week and a team that works to make the improvements happen and then recurring data to evaluate and improve incrementally over time
My ideal office environment is productive, hard-working and strategic, yet casual and fun. It would of course include supportive, friendly people.
I like a mix of people time and quiet, where I can close the door and get my work done so I don’t let anyone down.
The most important factors in a workplace for me are clear expectations/goals, efficient procedures and ample opportunities for advancement. Having a highly motivated team doesn’t hurt, either!
I also like a good amount of desk space with compartments to keep everything organized. If I am being picky, neutral colors and simple office decor make me happy.
My ideal work environment is a closed office. I don’t like people having easy access to distract me or to interrupt what I am doing. I like a closed space where I can work in peace.
I hate work that is challenging and new, if I don’t completely understand what I am doing and why. I like to know what to expect and know that I am capable of doing it.
I’d like a fun, low stress, relaxed environment, where I have one or two close workmates I can chat too. Where I can work on my own work but have others available to give input or help me when requested.
My ideal work environment is somewhere that has a good amount of people but is still small enough that I can know them on an individual level.
My ideal work environment involves a few close co-workers I get along well with, clear expectations and clearly delineated tasks, and a respect for work/life balance.”
My ideal work environment would have 1/2 height cubicles — high enough to have clear boundaries on where my work space starts and ends and to duck into when I need to ‘disappear,’ yet low enough to feel a part of the group and accessible.
When an open work environment is encouraged, tasks and even roadblocks will be easier to manage.
Being able to openly express new ideas and welcome other’s talents should start from day one.
Choosing to be open with your coworkers about any changes that you would like to make will help you feel more comfortable when taking action.
Be Open. Communication with other coworkers and your superiors is key to being inspired by work.
Once you have discovered your ideal environment, you can start taking action to get there.
A culture that is molded around a company vision may not be a home run for you right away but don’t be shy if there are some areas that fit your idea of culture: as long as the company mostly fits the culture that you are expecting, give it a try!
Your work environment, whether you are currently employed or looking for a job, isn’t always going to be a perfect fit from the start but there should be some immediate glimpse that it will work for you eventually.
A work environment isn’t simply defined by the office size or space but also by the interactions with other employees, the involvement of management, and communication expectations.
Your health doesn’t have to be compromised when working on the move, workstations can be and should be ergonomically assessed wherever the location.
Don’t forget to keep yourself protected against harmful bacteria on shared workspaces using our range of technology cleaning products.
Don’t forget to keep yourself protected against harmful bacteria on shared workspaces using our range of technology cleaning products.
This requires functional, sturdy, adaptable a products that can be used from one person to the next such as back and foot supports or monitor and laptop stands.
Being on the move and working in multiple locations can be a real strain. For this scenario, you need a lightweight, portable, easy to assemble a solution to use in a wide range of locations.
Being on the move and working in multiple locations can be a real strain. For this scenario, you need a lightweight, portable, easy to assemble a solution to use in a wide range of locations. Fellowes have recently launched the Laptop Go Riser™, ideal for working on the move.
Whether it be a kitchen table or a home office there are ergonomic solutions to keep you protected while working from home, from space saving monitor stands to wrist supports these solutions will help you stay comfortable, healthy and productive.
Business today is all about work on the go, this is referred to as Nomadic Working. This “hot desk Style of working, whether it be a kitchen table, in a café, hotel or on a sofa with a laptop is on the increase,
It’s therefore essential for you to be working in the best possible way to achieve the best results and enjoy the best of health!
When you consider just how much time we spend working at our desks – or on our computers – it will come as no surprise that 86% of Europeans think a comfortable, pleasant work environment has a direct impact on their productivity.
While one person may thrive in a traditional office setting, another may feel smothered. On the flip side, the person who thrives in the traditional setting could feel lost in an unconventional workplace.
Beyond these basics, a company’s culture – as reflected by its working environment – will have a unique impact on different personalities
A few factors need to be present regardless of a company’s culture: ventilation, lighting and windows have all been proven in studies to impact productivity, either negatively or positively.
Your work environment matters. The space that surrounds us can either motivate or demotivate our daily activities
When you know what your top workplace values are, you’ll be more attuned to a corporate culture where you’ll thrive, whether it falls within the four listed above or somewhere in between
As a career coach, I encourage my clients to be more proactive in figuring this out. Here’s a list of 40 Personal Workplace Values – see which ones resonate for you.
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Looking back, I learned through trial and error how my personal workplace values factored into choosing ideal workplace environments. A
Training was nonexistent; those who didn’t catch on the first day were not treated very well. Clearly, I didn’t last long in those toxic settings, regardless of what the corporate culture was.
The atmosphere in both companies was dictatorial, favoritism-driven, and negative
The jobs I disliked were in a market research firm and in an apartment complex rental office.
Looking back, I learned through trial and error how my personal workplace values factored into choosing ideal workplace environments.
promotes clearly-defined roles and relationships between co-workers
It’s important to break off from office life for the benefit of private life (and in turn). Also, people need this balance to take care of their health and focus on what it’s important at a given moment.
In a constant rivalry between work and private life, there must be a clear boundary.
Nobody wants their work to be invisible, so here comes the manager who plays an important role in making sure that everyone feels appreciated.
88% of employees agree that it’s essential for them to be rewarded for the efforts they undertake
Logistics – having all you need to do your work.
Support for New Ideas – there is a genuine willingness to hear, evaluate, and if warranted support the implementation of new ideas and suggestions
Room for Independence – individuals are free and encouraged to work as independently as the task allows.
Socially Pleasant Environment – to work with the best people who are pleasant, cooperative and respectful.
Working for a boss who pushes me to be better is extremely motivating to me.
I have worked for bosses who are brilliant and supportive and I have worked for bosses who are not supportive and belittling.
Things like health and wellness programs, excellent benefits and social activities to foster engagement demonstrate a company’s level of concern and care for its employees
If someone is at a company for five or 10 years and still has the spark, then I’m interested. To me, that’s a company that nurtures the creativity of its people and encourages growth.
When I’m speaking to people who may be my future co-workers, I want to feel their excitement about their work.
What I value the most about being at a company like Evoke Health is the open-door policy that our executive managers have with employees that creates a positive management culture and ensures that every voice is heard.
Being at a smaller company means that every person’s hard work is recognized in our end products.
In theater, they tell you that there is no small role, just small actors. In my opinion, this mindset also defines an ideal workplace in a business environment—a place where everyone has an important role to play that directly impacts the success of a company.
A visually calming space and a place to call “mine” are important too, as is a war room where we can be loud, whiteboard ideas, tack visuals on the wall, slouch on the couch, leave empty Coke cans on the coffee table and come back to it all in the morning.
I appreciate being able to put on headphones if I need to shut out the world.
I like the ebb and flow of a busy office. It gives the workplace life.
A multi-cultural environment provides various perspectives and cross-team exposure to art, science and technology. I prefer to work with people who are adaptable, collaborative and friendly. Teams like that energize a workplace.
I look for a company whose environment is multi-cultural in terms of both individuals’ origins and their skills.
A multi-cultural environment provides various perspectives and cross-team exposure to art, science, and technology. I prefer to work with people who are adaptable, collaborative and friendly. Teams like that energize a workplace.
I look for a company whose environment is multi-cultural in terms of both individuals’ origins and their skills.
advertising can be stressful, but because we are so professional in our approach with one another at AbelsonTaylor, the environment is “gentler” than in many other places. I hear the words “please,” “thanks” and “I’m sorry” (when appropriate) every day and that makes our environment the most considerate I’ve worked in during my entire care
By sharing our unique and creative selves with the group, the idea that we are all a part of something together grows stronger in everyone’s mind.
Another person tells the group about a music show they will be performing in some night later that week—and how we are all invited after work.
Someone shares a website that helped her understand an interactive design element in a new and exciting way.
The ideal workplace for me is when the environment is fostered through grace, respect and shared awareness for the creative process.
For me, I really like to listen to music playing in the background while I work. I love piano and instrumental music, and I’ve tweaked my channel on Pandora to suit my tastes wonderfully. I prefer a workplace that lets me have that ability.
Some people like working at home, others go to coffee shops and some enjoy the office environment to facilitate their drive for achievement and creativity.
There can be many other strategies, activities, teamwork etc., but relationships should be natural not forced, otherwise it could be just another stereotype people are expected to conform to in a prescribed fashion.
In the ideal workplace, employees would be encouraged to take the breaks they are entitled to and there would a reasonably nice cafeteria (or equivalent) where employees can take their breaks together (should they choose) away from their workstation.
If workplace relationships are so important and can make employees more committed to their work, how can they be best encouraged? One key factor that sets the tone is the attitude towards taking breaks.
Enjoying the work is a bonus, but enjoying the people may help individuals be more accepting of work that may not really excite them, which is often the case in today’s environment of limited job options.
the parent may love his/her children dearly, but value time in the workplace relating at an adult level with people from diverse backgrounds.
People relationships, more than anything else, I believe, make it feel good about going to work and spending large amounts of time away from home.
What else would employees look for in an ideal workplace? Pay, benefits and perquisites are important but may not directly affect life in the workplace – may be more superficial.
The role of managers would be more focused on the efficient and strategic direction of the function for which they are responsible than on controlling employees and making sure they are working hard.
It would be a workplace where people are calm, confident, committed and able to get the job done without a fuss. Leadership would be firm and fair, but still in touch with human reality and social conscience.
Limiting the need to role-play (including executives) would significantly improve most environments. The senior people who today feel they have to look grim and driven and acting tough all the time wouldn’t have to. They can be themselves, expressing normal emotions and getting things done, with other people, without drama or finger pointing in judgment.
The business would keep things as simple as possible to meet requirements and not oblige employees to role-play any more than necessary. Part of the simplicity would also be the business, not role-playing (i.e. insincere values) any more than necessary for marketing in a competitive world.
An ideal workplace would be a nice place to be for the majority of employees and at the same time successful from a business perspective and smart enough to remain ahead of the competition. One foot would be firmly on the ground and one foot nudging always into the future.
with businesses becoming more aware of their own responsibilities in terms of mental health, as well as the impact that they can have on their employees, the good news is that there is something that can be done for those businesses that are open-minded and have a forward-thinking attitude.
These statistics are obviously worrying for businesses because lost working days means lower productivity and profits, but there’s also the reality that staff who are not thriving mentally are not thriving professionally. When someone is not happy at work, they are unlikely to be performing at their best.
tress in the workplace is a prevalent problem as well. According to the official report, there were as many as 1,510 cases per 100,000 employees in the 2015/2016 working year. That’s nearly half a million people affected by stress and anxiety in the space of just 12 months.
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While most of us would probably think of physical ailments as the most likely to affect employees, anxiety and stress are two of the biggest causes of illness that workers face in the UK. These two mental health issues alone, often brought on by the rigors of day-to-day work, account for as many as 45 percent of all lost working days, according to the Health and Safety Executive
This is a focus that businesses can look at as well, especially given the impact that environment and the workplace can have on the mental health of employees.
in recent years, there has been a change in attitudes, with companies becoming more aware of their own responsibility for ensuring their workforce is both physically and mentally healthy.
Wellbeing is a big issue for any company. If an employee is not fit for work, there are implications for businesses, with lost hours, drops in productivity, and the potential for falling profits.
How you’re feeding your organizational culture is basically going to affect how it is sustainable. And, of course, it’s the same thing with an aquarium: if you don’t sustain an aquarium, if you don’t feed it, it will die.
A one-size-fits-all approach is one of the biggest mistakes because it doesn’t provide the options,” Carlson says. “The open-plan, sea of workstations … is not likely to be successful.
Having obstructions in a varied environment can be really positive. But having a varied environment is really about choice — giving people spaces where they conduct certain tasks, versus an open environment for the sake of an open environment.
Variety Of Spaces. The most important thing an office must have, Carlson explains, is opportunity through variety. Visual elements that disrupt the space and task-based, private or semiprivate spaces where employees can complete focused work can be an asset to productivity, she says.
a study found that employees who were able to customize a small office with small pictures and plants were up to 32 percent more productive than those who were not able to customize their office space, 99u reported. Employees with control over their space also identified more with their employer.
the color of an environment can have a significant effect on our mental state. Specifically, according to Wright, at least, blue is intellectually stimulating, yellow inspires creativity, red affects the physical body and green inspires calm and balance.
workers in open offices were more likely to perceive noise than those in cellular offices, in addition to temperature-related discomfort and poor air quality. Noise is also a common cause of distraction in open offices.
A 2008 Texas State University study suggested that a few green plants in the office can have a real impact on worker happiness. Researchers surveyed 450 office workers and found that those who worked in offices with plants and window views reported feeling better about their jobs than those in windowless offices with no greenery.
Workers in offices with windows, who experience greater light exposure, get more and better sleep at night than those who work in windowless offices, according to 2013 research from Northwestern University.
Grant Butrum, a dedicated employee, once said, “I could go on and on about my work environment but at the end of the day, the most important thing that I notice is that people work hard and enjoy their job when they work for a company that genuinely cares for their employees. You can’t ask for a better environment!”
The workers have to spend more than one-quarter of their day devoted to working in order to increase the sales and return on investment of the business. This calls for an ideal working environment.
While working, the foremost thing that affects the productivity of the personnel and the efficiency of the workflow is the office environment.
For a business to succeed in the global market, it is necessary that the working team maintains harmony in the workplace.
Proper motivation leads to high performance within an ideal work environment. And the communication of core values is the first step to achieving that ideal work environment.
There are enjoyment and pride in the actual work being done. People want to be productive, to grow, to contribute, and to be challenged.
Keeping workplace culture and core values at the forefront can enable people to excel in today’s tasks and keep the future in mind.
in a Deloitte survey on core beliefs and culture, results showed that exceptional organizations think about their business as a two-sided ledger: strategy and culture
Millennials intending to stay with their organizations for at least five years are far more likely than others to report a positive culture that focuses on the needs of the individual.
It frees them to work independently and creatively, as they know the “why” behind the company’s goals and objectives, and can proactively make decisions that reflect and support the core values.
people who share core values about their company are able to work with purpose, and with greater productivity.
Discussion of core values within a company is twofold; to obtain employee involvement and input on how to achieve the goals based on those values, and to link efforts, communication, and respect across groups within an organization.
An ideal work environment comes to exist when a set of core values are shared and supported across, and throughout, an organization.
Core values first have to be communicated throughout the company, so that each individual is aware of the components of their company’s culture, and can participate in the conversations surrounding it
Collaboration and open communication between management and employees lead to transparency, which in turn leads to all having a vested interest in the success of the business.
Culture is an important and valuable quality within, and across, workgroups.
An ideal work environment comes to exist when a set of core values are shared and supported across, and throughout, an organization.
The phrase or concept ideal work environment often means different things to each person within an organization. Culture, and core values, though, can impact what the ideal work environment is, and how it’s seen, within a company
Few people get their best work done in a dull gray cubicle farm or a noisy open office.
Nowadays, they are aware that there are many factors involved in this and that many of them are related to their workforce.
For a long time, having the ideal work environment has been one of the great forgotten subjects within organizations because they were more worried about profitability, earnings, and clients.
Having a job that promotes good and healthy relationships, teamwork, fluid communication, recognitions, and incentives to reward people’s effort (annual bonus, for example), are little big details that can make the difference between good or bad final results.
DO NOT FORGET THE LITTLE BIG DETAILS!
It is well-known that workers value their jobs and work better if they feel motivated and have a positive work environment.
Keep in mind that a positive assessment of the working environment indicates a sense of belonging to the company, achievement, identity, productivity, high satisfaction, adaptation, and innovation.
Conducting internal work environment surveys, as well as taking part in the Great Place to Work survey, which recognizes the best companies to work for worldwide, are good initiatives to consider.
Maintaining a continuous way of measuring yourself regarding employees’ perception will be essential for making timely improvements and upholding a high level of commitment and therefore, good results.
Companies that have Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plans reflect values such as equality, respect for diversity, and tolerance, which employees want to identify with.
Companies that move along in the development of policies of social inclusion and that contribute to the community obtain greater productivity from their employees.
At the end, this is reflected in customer satisfaction.
Events per project, informational breakfasts, sports tournaments, healthy living programs, work from home, flexible schedules, and continuous training, among others, are some ideas that are useful to increase the sense of belonging within the teams.
A good practice to achieve the ideal work environment is to form a team led by a human resources area that is responsible for designing, developing, executing, and improving the processes and programs that aim for the care and well-being of talent
All should be accompanied by an evaluation process, continuous feedback in different stages of the training process, and coaching and mentoring, among others, which are good starting points to motivate the teams and boost each one’s potential
Invest in specific training (technical, soft skills and languages), assign each person the most appropriate project according to their profile, ensure that the projects are challenging, and offer a career plan that allows employees professional growth within the company.
Therefore, we have a complete recruiting process where we ensure that each candidate, in addition to having the excellent technical knowledge, has a proper profile that indicates to us that he/she will adapt and integrate easily into our culture.
We need talented and committed people to have successful projects and satisfied customers.
We consider talent as the fundamental axis of the organization.
The success of a business depends on many factors; however, there is a fundamental aspect that in many cases encompasses everything: its members.
Working to create an excellent work environment has become a strategic pillar, as companies have understood that contributing to the well-being and happiness of their employees has a direct impact on the quality of services, customer satisfaction, and therefore, on both their and the client’s profitability and growth
When workers feel engaged, they are more likely to work harder for the good of the company, because they can see first-hand what their contributions mean to its success.
Effective communication between employers and employees expect their leaders to not only communicate the company’s goals, objectives, strategies, and culture clearly, but also abide by them.
Research shows that a motivated, engaged and responsive workforce is substantially more productive than an unmotivated, apathetic group of employees.
It is widely known that employees who are motivated generate higher value, lead to more substantial levels of achievement and aid to having an ideal work environment.
Unhappy employees are quick to take alternative jobs and even worse they can spread negativity and animosity amongst the rest of the team.
The work environment includes a company’s location, facilities, culture, interactions between employees and employers, and growth opportunities, to name but a few.
The work environment has a significant effect on employee motivation, job satisfaction and team morale. Employees are enthusiastic about reporting to work every day if the work environment is a positive one.
No place is perfect, but if you begin with the end in mind and think about walking in your employees shoes, you will be well on your way to creating a positive, productive workplace where people are happy to be part of your vision, contributing to your end goal.
Encourage social activities and fun outside the office – for those who want to participate. Include family and friends when possible. In the end, if people know and understand each other, you can build a positive workplace culture.
People spend a lot of time working today. Making the workplace somewhere that employees actually enjoy will ensure people are working to support and deliver your mission.
It’s about the journey as much as the destination. It also includes sharing your passion with others. No one said that you cannot have a little fun and laughter at work.
Have a little fun. Being happy at work includes finding your passion, working toward it and having fun along the way.
In a small company, that’s probably you. An employee’s attitude is a direct reflection of leadership. Leading others is not easy. Reach out to mentors and identify training opportunities to help you develop your skills as a leader.
Be the leader that you wanted as an employee. Research consistently suggests that an employees everyday experience, and as a result, the perception of where they work is most directly correlated with their relationship and experience with his or her direct supervisor.
Support employees when they face personal challenges. A little bit of caring goes a long way toward employee and brand loyalty.
Understand that each employee yearns for respect in both their work and their personal lives. Get to know your employees. Celebrate personal and professional milestones.
Treat each employee as a person. Remember to recognize people not only for what they do or only at their best but who they are.
Mobile usage. Sixty-six percent of high school students feel it is acceptable to check a mobile device for work during family time. Only 43 percent of workers age 55 and older agree with this
According to the Glassdoor survey, at Facebook, employees are frowned upon for missing important family affairs. Be flexible. Perhaps employees can work from home or shift hours to spend time with the children each day or go to school.
Conversely, only 73 percent of current workers feel the same way. While this is often more difficult for small business owners, think creatively.
Offer competitive salaries, benefits, perks, and promotions. Eighty-seven percent of high school students believe that a worker should be promoted every two to three years, as long as they are performing at a high level.