6 Signs Of A Healthy Workplace
How to tell a good work environment from a bad one
A Balanced Workplace
How well do you feel at work? It is a big question to ask and, of course, the answer could come from a few angles. We could discuss the way people are treated, how communication occurs, or the way the layout of the office promotes or discourages teamwork. But let’s stop for a moment. Let’s look at it holistically instead.
In this brief article, we will invite you to consider the signs of a healthy working arrangement and discuss a few ways in making your office better within a few moments. That’s right! It doesn’t take much to make a change for the better. So, take a deep breath and read on…
1. Wellbeing Is Prioritised
Whether you work remotely or in an office, your well-being should be at the forefront of your priority list. Without it, anything else will be an uphill battle. More and more companies are introducing rules and schedules that promote a healthy work-life balance, but until it becomes the norm, it’s essential to know what to expect.
Our productivity and efficiency depend on our feeling of safety, satisfaction, and health. The correlation can be striking. Businesses that take their employee’s well-being seriously gain from higher worker retention rates and achieve more with less effort. Whatever industry you might be in, notice whether people’s needs are addressed and respected.
2. Teamwork Over Competition
Do you share success with your team or do you keep your efforts to yourself? Relationships within the company often depend on the company’s atmosphere. Where competition is encouraged, ties between workers are weak and unstable. The opposite takes place, where teamwork is endorsed.
Humans are social animals. We thrive in a supportive environment that enables us to grow through courageous tries. In a business setting, the same is true. If you’re not able to trust your co-workers, you won’t risk voicing ideas that might improve the project. Take a mental note of your job’s environment and ask yourself ‘do I feel competition within the team?’.
3. Encouragement Over Threat
How often do you receive praise? Of course, we do not believe in being praised for anything, all of the time. It has to come with a reason. But between encouragement and threat, the first one is a healthier, more sustainable choice. Fear-based strategy is a certain recipe for short-lasting success.
Workers in teams, which base their policy around competition and fear of being made redundant, report higher stress levels and lower job satisfaction. This, in turn, drives lower efficiency and undermines the employee’s willingness to ‘go the extra mile. In a healthy workplace, your efforts are noticed and praised, which gives you the encouragement necessary for further striving.
4. After Hours Are For You
How often do you have to take a phone call or send an email after your workday is done? If your job spills onto your private life, the policy of your company needs readjusting. Work-life balance does not exist if work interrupts your time off.
Over the past months, more and more companies and countries have experimented with introducing a four-day workweek. Although the outcome is yet to be determined, this trend suggests that employees with more time for relaxation perform better. Become aware of your job situation. Maybe it’s time to propose a ‘don’t interrupt’ policy within the team to let everyone enjoy their afternoons.
5. Open Communication Is Encouraged
The Japanese philosophy of Kaizen promotes the idea of continuous improvement. This means constantly changing things to deliver better results. In a company, which recognises the space for improvement, open communication is encouraged. But this also means criticism isn’t discouraged.
Great ideas and solutions can come from anyone in the team. This can only be achieved if employees are certain that their ideas will be heard and considered. Otherwise, they won’t bother in voicing them. In a healthy workplace, criticism, doubt, and brainstorming are used effectively and with full blessing from management. If your job discourages open communication you are likely to feel repressed and disrespected.
6. You Share Company’s Mission
Why do you do what you do? According to Simon Sinek, understanding one’s ‘why’ can provide a greater depth of motivation and progress. Companies that share their mission with their workers are substantially more successful in the marketplace. After all, your teamwork will bring more success if all of you understand the intentions behind your work.
Creating a healthy work environment demands cooperation and contribution. These will likely occur when the idea behind the work is widely known. When trying to improve your workplace, take time to discuss and evaluate the feel of the mission among your co-workers. Asking each other what your work means to you is a great way of strengthening the bonds and finding the middle ground.
Your Work Is Your Business
However many hours you might be spending at work, it is up to you to make it more bearable. Like anything you do in life, your work is your business. Recognising the issues and analysing the atmosphere in your workplace are the first steps in creating the change for the better. If you want something to change, you need to start by changing your attitude.
Working with others can be difficult, working for companies can be arduous, and working on your own can be overwhelming. Every situation is different and brings about various challenges to overcome. Great workplace environments are built by people who wish to see things in a better light. Big changes start with little conversations. Become an agent of change by applying the points above and raising awareness about the issues that you wish to improve.
Before You Go
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