Every business owner wants a profitable business. They want their business to be successful and be the best it can be. This could be because it’s their passion or perhaps it’s a new venture for them and they want to succeed. It could even be that this business is being monitored so that it can generate capital for another new startup.
However, it’s very rare that someone would buy a business that isn’t profitable so, in order to get the business appealing to a buyer, the business needs to make some serious money. Do you want your business to make more money? Make sure you have happy employees.
Why should business owners and managers care about happy employees? They are more productive. Happy employees work better with others (including how they treat your customers). They show more creativity in problem-solving. They are more energetic, optimistic and motivated.
And all these things translate into a healthier bottom line and greater profitability.
Happy employees produce more
Some employees will only be happy making more money, but there are other ways to create the kind of internal relationships that will help create a happier and more productive workplace. (P.S. Even if you’re not the boss, you can incorporate these tips into your work style to improve life for everyone.)
- Walk the walk and talk the talk. It’s hard to have a happy staff if the top dog isn’t happy. How do you show that you enjoy what you’re doing? What are you saying to your employees?
Do you walk around with a glum look on your face, sighing and dragging your feet? Is your vocabulary filled with “no,” “can’t,” “won’t,” “never,” “always” or “shouldn’t”?
By simply turning your language around, you will be more positive yourself and will encourage others to be more creative and open to possibilities.
For example, “No, that won’t work” could be changed to, “That’s an interesting idea. How do you see it working?” Who knows — you might even learn something. Bear in mind, this could mean giving up your right to be correct in all instances. Can your ego handle that?
- Listen to your internal dialog. How many times have you beat yourself up for errors, real and imagined? We all make mistakes. That doesn’t make us bad people.
Recognize what you’ve done, what you’ve learned from it and figure out ways to avoid it going forward.
Look for positive things to say to yourself. Write them down, using present-tense verbs, to program our computers (AKA brains) to get the right result. For example, if you find yourself overwhelmed with a complex assignment, write: “I compile the best, most comprehensive report this company has ever seen!”
Say it out loud, with feeling (behind closed doors, if necessary). You’ll be surprised at the little uplift it provides. Improving your own attitude and outlook will be felt by those who work for you.
- No whining. Is there anything worse than a chronic whiner in the office (or anywhere, honestly)? It’s too hot, it’s too cold, people don’t replace the empty toilet paper roll, the customers are rude and stupid…you get the drift.
It’s exhausting. Put a stop to it. Tell the whiner that their complaints are negatively affecting everyone in the office. Document it. And if doesn’t get better, let that person find employment elsewhere.
- Turn “win/lose” into “win/win.” In our highly competitive society, too many of us think that in order to win, someone else has to lose.
That is simply not true. In a collaborative, open and respectful work environment, good ideas can snowball into great ideas that, in the end, benefit everyone – employees, employers and customers.
- Drop the drama…yours and everyone else’s. Drama queens (and kings) sap your energy. Keep a cool head, deal with it and get on with it. Whatever it is, it can’t be the end of the world. Get a grip.
- Give yourself a time out. We all get stressed to the max at some point. There’s nothing wrong with just getting up and walking away to collect yourself.
If you’re in a stressful meeting, excuse yourself to go to the restroom (if you need to get into those kinds of details). Walk it off. Give yourself a pep talk.
If you can, go do something else for a while. The break will help you come back fresh.You may not be able to control the circumstances, but you can control how you react to them.
Practice good stress management techniques yourself first, then teach your staff how it’s done. Reinforce appropriate behavior by complimenting employees who do a good job of keeping their cool.
- Don’t dwell on the past. Stop talking about “the good old days.” What’s important is what is going on right now. Do it well, do it right and enjoy it. People will notice – and appreciate it.
- Start “The 10 Best Things about Working Here” list. Post it on the break-room cabinet and let people add to it. When that list is done, start a new one.
- Smile. You can’t smile enough. Smile when you answer the phone, when you’re in a meeting, when you’re listening to someone. If nothing else, people will wonder what you’re up to.
What tips can you share about creating a productive workplace? Please add your comments below.
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