Options for Managers To Improve The Working Environment

Happiness at work is based on many aspects and can vary from employee to employee: a good boss, stimulating projects, recognition and rewards, work stability, and/or a pleasant atmosphere, to name a few, can all contribute to someone being motivated to go to work.

As a manager, creating an environment that brings out the best in your employees is essential to the success of the company. Here are a few tips to improve your work environment.

1- Show a vulnerable side

People often perceive managers and other leadership roles as strong, resilient, and invincible. Their image of strength can also be misinterpreted as aloof, or as a kind of magic armor that protects them from the hurdles faced by the employees who report to them.

Whether it is the misconception of employees towards their managers or the manager’s inability to show a softer, more human side, the key point is that showing some form of vulnerability can be very encouraging to employees. It lets them know that you too are subject to mistakes, regrets, and frustration, that criticism and rejection can also have an impact on your state of mind.

Showing an image of flawlessness can be intimidating rather than inspiring, which can make employees feel quite defeated by their own shortcomings.

Showing that you are as human as everyone else will improve the working atmosphere, as you will be more comprehensible to your staff and they will be more willing to follow you rather than feel threatened by you. They may also realize that the hidden leadership personality within themselves can come out, even though it is not perfect.

Showing and even allowing vulnerability can be very encouraging to others, which can have a positive impact on performance and success.

2- Know your employees’ strengths and use them.

As a manager, do you know your employees? I mean, do you really know your employees? What motivates them, how do they handle stress or emergencies, how do they learn, what support do they need to do their best, and more importantly, what projects bring out the best in them?

Uncovering their innate strengths will help you delegate tasks and responsibilities that match their talents and natural reflexes. A psychometric test can uncover such personality traits to discover your team’s true potential.

Not only will employees feel understood by their managers and important enough that you took the time to get to know them and their best qualities, but they will also feel more comfortable in a position that allows their talents to shine. This can reduce frustration and conflict and improve the work environment because happy employees lead to a happy company.

As a leader, take the time to discover certain aspects of your employees that may not be visible on the surface because you never know what amazing strengths you will find!

3- Make time for group activities.

If you think about it, people usually spend more time with their colleagues than with friends, sometimes even with family. It’s no wonder that maintaining a pleasant relationship with them can ultimately lead to happiness at work.

Even if your organization is made up of people who work alone on their individual goals and have little need for teamwork, it is still important to create a sense of belonging for your employees. They are still indirectly working together towards a common goal: the success of the organization.

Planning team-building exercises and/or group activities helps to improve the work environment, as it primarily creates awareness among colleagues. This awareness can create a sense of ease, appreciation and connection among many employees, which can increase motivation to get up in the morning and go to work.

Seeing your employee as more than just “the person who gives you the weekly reports” can lead to more respect and understanding for them. Creating synergy can also be as simple as having lunch together or going out after work to the local restaurant. It doesn’t have to be extravagant or formal, but it should allow staff to participate in some way and take something positive away from the experience.

Using a psychometric test to provide that “behind the scenes” look at your employee’s natural and innate strengths can also be an objective start to a team building activity and awareness among colleagues.

4- Pay attention to performance and give feedback.

Sometimes this is easier said than done. As a manager, you are usually looking at the big picture and taking care of more higher-level tasks, so you are less on the field seeing the daily activities of your staff. This can make it harder to spot problems or tensions that might arise.

While it’s important to maintain this helicopter view, it’s also important to set aside some time to closely monitor your team’s performance and mood. Are expectations being met regularly, is there tension among colleagues, do certain employees seem distracted or unable to concentrate, are they going through a stressful period, do they need support, etc…?

Giving continuous feedback, but also tools on how to improve will help your staff to get to the desired outcome and set a clearer path to success. This can improve the work environment as managers become more aware of their teams’ performance, development, and motivational needs and even help prevent burnouts.

Giving constructive feedback is not always easy and can take you out of your comfort zone, especially when faced with an employee who is underperforming. However, if approached properly and not delayed, it can be the signpost to your team’s success.

Showing your vulnerable side, taking time for group activities, giving appropriate feedback, and, most importantly, knowing your employees’ strengths is crucial to improving any work environment.

As a manager, ask yourself if you are creating a work atmosphere that motivates your employees to come in every morning.