Do you work in a positive workplace?

“Tough times makes for tougher people”
“Throw me to a pack of wolves and I shall return leading the pack”
“We didn’t come this far just to come this far.”

Quotes, cliques, inspirational quotes may be all around your workplace. But does it make a difference to productivity? You bet it does!

American Psychological Association Study

The American Psychological Association conducted a study about stress in the workplace and they found that 550 million workdays are lost every year because of stress.

So, if you are the employer or employee, take notes and dream big. Your workplace can be more than just work. Positivity at work can make all the difference to your professional and personal life.

A lack of positivity and incentives, constantly working overtime, and an uninspiring workplace will cause disengagement. And sooner or later, people get worn down.

Queens School of Business Study

A study by Queens School of Business and Gallup Org showed staggering results of employees’ disengagement. A shocking 37% of employees who are unmotivated and unproductive have a higher absenteeism and experience 60% more errors in their work. What does that tell us? It tells us that engagement is crucial for the success of any business, big or small.

In times of trouble and discord, here are some ways to increase the positivity and engagement at work, whether you’re the boss or employee.

First, work needs to be a place where you’re the best version of yourself. Respect your colleagues, go forward with kindness, forgive mistakes, and look out for each other.

Make sure you’re creating an environment where people feel safe and have fun at work. And make sure you take time for cultural engagement within your team. Take time to eat or socialize with workmates where you make it a priority to not talk about work.

And if you’re in a position of leadership, you are the person the rest of the employees look up to. Be an empathetic leader, someone who listens to people’s needs. Yes, it’s your job to engage your employees in work. But you also need to be approachable when people are having a hard time.

Fostering a positive work environment pays off for employers in their ability to recruit others to their facility, increased productivity from their team, fewer sick days taken, and a more cohesive team. For employees, contributing to a positive work environment means you’re much more likely to enjoy the time you’re spending at work. You’re also more likely to find solutions faster, and benefit from a team effort.