^{Business Strategy} Creating a Team Atmosphere (From an Employee’s Point of View)

Most of us spend 40 hours a week at work. This means that over the year the average worker spends 2,080 hours of their life working. Sometimes companies offer a great experience where you see growth, teamwork, learning and communication. They host events and work together like a seamless machine… and sometimes, not so much.

I believe in order to have a thriving business; you must have a thriving team.

Now if you have frustrated, bitter employees this could prove to be a daunting task. To me the worst is to come to work every day and hear people gossiping about their managers, complaining about their jobs, and bashing the company. It shows a great lack of respect for the company, and even worse a great lack of respect for yourself. Your job, whether you like it or not, is a big part of your life. This behaviour is extremely contagious and spreads faster than the news of free muffins in the lunchroom; it also completely drains work place morale and energy.

So how can we prevent this nasty virus from spreading through our workplaces? (And no, don’t go firing every sour puss on your staff team.) First look within, what can you do to improve the team atmosphere, and make it a healthy thriving workplace?

Be impeccable with your word. Speak to me with integrity and, “Say what you mean, and mean what you say” (I apologize for the Dr. Seuss quote… but seriously he’s a smart guy!) I don’t expect perfection from my managers, but I try to leave as little to interpretation as possible otherwise we both become frustrated in the end.

Please don’t make assumptions. Yes there are exceptions, but most of us come to work to work, for you and to make your company a better place. I invest my time in your company and I only ask that you see that every once and a while. We’re all learning every day we walk through these doors. If you make incorrect assumptions about me I won’t feel like I’m working as part of a team, but been shoved to the bench.

Include me in the excitement of the company’s successes. Sometimes we all get caught up in what we ourselves did to make this success happen; we forget to honor everyone else who had just as much a part (if not more) than the big decision makers in the company. Let’s celebrate together, always.

Communicate with me. If I am not doing something correctly, please don’t wait six months until my next review to tell me. I’ll be a lot less frustrated if you talk to me in the moment and we have a chance to work through it together, as a team should.

Keep me informed the best you can. I understand some things need to be kept quiet for a while. Just remember I am as invested in this company as you are, if you allow me to be. I’d love to know the company’s goals and aspirations. This knowledge makes me feel even more invested, and the more invested I am, the more I can help you through the process.

If there is a big change coming, the earlier I can be informed, the more accepting I will be. Employees don’t fear change; they fear the lack of communication through change. A note from one employee to another…

Be the change you want to see –Ghandi.

• Always come to work with your best intentions and leave the rest behind.
• Managers and owners are just people.
• You need to take responsibility for yourself, learn to communicate your concerns instead of starting a company wide gossip session.
• Everyone feeds off your energy every day.
• Try your best to be positive, I guarantee you will see how differently people respond to you, and how much more respected you will feel.

Be the team member you would want on your team. Help each other out. We are all in this together; why not make it a great place to be?