Positive Work Culture
Business owners are always looking for ways to increase productivity. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to establish a positive work culture. In a small business, having employees that are happy, i.e., feel valued, supported, secure and respected, is imperative since they can have a direct impact on the bottom line. Happy workers are more:
- •engaged – meaning they get more done;
- •collaborative – the sharing of ideas and opinions leads to problem solving, efficiency and creativity;
- •and likely to stick around – eliminates time and expense spent interviewing and replacing employees.
So, how does Macondo keep its employees happy? It’s really not that hard.
- 1.Macondo values its employees. We maintain an open-door policy. All employees are encouraged to speak up about their ideas and are awarded for their contributions. We do this by having team lunches, sharing rewards earned by sales people (people in support positions all help make a sale successful) and bonuses.
- 2.Macondo supports its employees. We go out of our way to show employees that we care. We want them to feel that they can talk to us and that even if they are having a problem, we will do all that we can to help them. In so doing, we build trust and help them succeed. After all, kindness goes a long way.
- 3.Macondo instills security in its employees by involving them in the daily operations of the company and recognizing a work/life balance. For example, we involve employees in the design of our office space, from picking out paint colors and carpeting, to décor and furniture. We also understand that people have a life outside of the office and that personal matters and appointments may come up during the work day. We never penalize an employee for taking care of himself/herself and his/her family. In fact, we encourage it!
- 4.Macondo treats its employees with respect. We do not blame people for mistakes but work together to find ways to avoid them in the future. On the flip side, we share our successes. Group celebrations are not uncommon.
It has been proven that a positive workplace is a more productive workplace. Developing a positive culture is as simple as showing gratitude and kindness. Following the motto we all learned as children — treat others how you yourself want to be treated – leads to success.