It’s no secret that people don’t want to work in a negative work environment. According to TeamStage, company culture is an important factor to 46% of job seekers. With that said, workplaces are complicated and negative interactions are inevitable. Although you can’t eliminate all negative situations that will happen at your organization, there are things that you can do to reduce workplace negativity. Keep reading as we review how workplace negativity impacts your company and five tips on how to minimize it at your organization.
How does workplace negativity impact your company?
Workplace negativity impacts some of the main aspects of an organization including:
1) Employee morale and satisfaction
A negative work environment can cause low employee morale and decreased job satisfaction. Employees who do not feel valued and respected are less likely to be engaged in their work, resulting in lower levels of overall motivation.
2) Employee productivity
If employees are consistently met with negativity, they are less likely to be productive or motivated to give their best efforts. This can lead to decreased productivity, missed deadlines and a lower quality of work.
3) Employee well-being
Negativity in the workplace can have a huge impact on employee well-being. A negative work environment can lead to stress, burnout, and decreased overall health. To learn about how to support the wellness of your team, stay tuned for our later blog posts on employee well-being.
Tips on How to Minimize Workplace Negativity
Let’s review some ways that you can combat workplace negativity and instead create an environment that supports and values your employees.
1) Encourage communication
By valuing open and honest communication, you can help foster a positive work environment. If you encourage employees to share their ideas and opinions, any negativity that does arise can be addressed more quickly.
2) Promote collaboration
Developing a workplace of collaboration and teamwork can help minimize negativity. When employees are working together towards a common goal, they are less likely to be disrespectful or resentful towards one another.
3) Lead by example
Managers or leaders at your organization should set the tone for the rest of the workplace by demonstrating positive, professional and respectful behaviour. People are more likely to follow the actions that they see around them.
4) Address negative behaviour
It is important to address negative behavior promptly and professionally. If you let an issue sit for long periods of time, resentments and negative relationships between colleagues can grow into even bigger problems. It is best to deal with the issue out front to prevent negativity from spreading and damaging the workplace culture.
5) Foster a supportive environment
Create a supportive workplace that encourages growth, personal development and a work-life balance. You want your employees to feel that you are invested in them and their development. A great way to demonstrate your support is to schedule an hour each week for office hours that allow employees to voice their worries and concerns.
At the root of it, limiting negativity in the workplace is crucial to the success of your business; no one wants to work in a toxic workplace. Although some negativity is inevitable, there are things you can do as a business owner to create a strong workplace culture that supports your employees and their needs.
That being said, the workplace comes with many complexities and complicated situations. It can be hard to navigate how to best handle when negativity arises. Luckily, there are people available who can help you! Here at STEPS, we offer small businesses various HR services that can assist you with any workplace negativity that may happen at your company. Learn more about the services we offer on our home page or send us a message on our contact page.
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