Tips for Minimizing Workplace Negativity
The best way to combat workplace negativity is to keep it from occurring in the first place. These tips will help you minimize workplace negativity.
• Provide opportunities for employees to make decisions about their own job. A frequent cause of workplace negativity is traceable to a manager or the organization making a decision about a person's work without the employee's input. Almost any decision that excludes the input of the person doing the work is perceived as negative.
• Make opportunities available for employees to express their opinion about workplace policies and procedures. Recognize the impact of changes in such areas as work hours, pay, benefits, assignment of overtime hours, dress codes, office location, job requirements, and working conditions.
These factors are closest to the mind, heart, and physical presence of each individual. Changes to these can cause serious negative responses. Provide timely, proactive responses to questions and concerns.
• Treat employees as adults with fairness and consistency. Develop and publicize workplace policies and procedures that organize work effectively. Apply them consistently. As an example, each employee has the opportunity to apply for leave time. In granting his request, apply the same factors to his application as you would to any other individual's.
• Do not create "rules" for all employees, when just a few employees are violating the norms. You want to minimize the number of rules directing the behavior of adults at work. Treat people as adults; they will usually live up to your expectations, and their own expectations.
• Help employees feel like members of the in-crowd; each person wants to have the same information as quickly as everyone else. Provide the context for decisions, and communicate effectively and constantly.
If several avenues or directions are under consideration, communicate all that you know, as soon as you know it. Reserve the right to change your mind later, when additional factors affect the direction of ultimate decisions.
• Afford employees the opportunity to grow and develop. Training, perceived opportunities for promotions, lateral moves for development, and cross-training are visible signs of an organization's commitment to staff.
• Provide appropriate leadership and a strategic framework, including mission, vision, values, and goals. Employees want to feel as if they are part of something bigger than themselves. If they understand the direction of the organization and their part in making the desired outcomes happen, they can effectively contribute more.
• Provide appropriate rewards and recognition so people feel their contribution is valued. The power of appropriate rewards and recognition for a positive workplace is remarkable. Suffice to say, reward and recognition is one of the most powerful tools an organization can use to buoy staff morale.
Take some time to analyze how well your organization is applying these recommendations. They form the foundation for positive staff morale and minimized negativity in your workplace.
SESCO Management Consultants is available to assist with your human resource issues. You may contact us by phone at 423-764-4127 or by email at sesco@sescomgt.com .