In a recent blog, I talked about the signs of a toxic workplace and how to identify if you’re in one. On the flip side of a toxic workplace is a positive workplace; in this blog, I’m going to explore what it looks like, the benefits of working in one and how to identify a positive workplace and culture when every employer claims to have one.
Positive workplaces are all about collaboration, open and clear communication, support and recognition. You feel valued and appreciated, and your colleagues and managers are supportive and encouraging. It’s a stark contrast to a toxic workplace, where you’re constantly walking on eggshells, and the culture is one of fear and negativity.
Some of the main benefits a positive workplace culture can provide for employees are:
Increased job satisfaction: When employees feel valued and appreciated, they’re more likely to be satisfied with their job. This can lead to higher levels of productivity, engagement, and motivation.
Better mental health: A positive workplace culture can have a significant impact on employees’ mental health. When employees feel supported and encouraged, they are less likely to experience stress, anxiety, and burnout.
Improved collaboration: In a positive workplace culture, employees are encouraged to work together and collaborate. This can lead to more effective problem-solving, better decision-making, and improved overall performance.
Greater innovation: A positive workplace culture can foster an environment of innovation and creativity. When employees feel comfortable sharing their ideas and trying new things, it can lead to breakthroughs and new opportunities.
Enhanced company reputation: A positive workplace culture can help to enhance a company’s reputation as an employer of choice. This can attract top talent, boost employee retention, and ultimately lead to better business outcomes.
Increased loyalty: When employees feel like they’re part of a positive workplace culture, they’re more likely to be loyal to their employer. This can lead to reduced turnover, increased employee engagement, and improved overall performance.
Better customer service: A positive workplace culture can have a ripple effect on customer service. When employees are happy and engaged, they are more likely to provide excellent customer service, leading to better customer satisfaction and loyalty. Customers can tell when an employee truly loves and enjoys what they do.
Employer benefits of a positive workplace culture include a reduction in staff turnover, motivated and engaged employees, improved customer service, stronger team dynamics, and employee loyalty to name a few.
If you’re considering a new employer, it’s important to assess whether they have a positive workplace culture. Here are a few questions you can ask at interview to help you identify a positive workplace culture in a potential employer:
Clear Communication: Ask the interview panel what the goals and expectations are for the role, take notice of how they answer, can they clearly communicate and articulate this? Look for employers that communicate clearly and openly about their values, goals, and expectations.
Strong Team Dynamics: This can be a tricky one to determine, but if your interview panel is made up of a few people, then take note of how they work with each other to conduct the interview. You can also do your own research by getting feedback from other people who work there and researching on social media to see how others perceive their own workplace. Look for employers that foster a supportive and inclusive work environment where employees feel comfortable working together.
Opportunities for Growth and Development: At interview, you can ask what opportunities they offer for employee growth and development, how do they support this, is there an allocated training budget for staff, are opportunities regularly discussed? Can the interviewer comfortably respond to these questions instead of being vague about it? Look for employers that offer training and development programs, mentorship opportunities, clear career paths and are invested in their employees’ success and growth.
Work/Life Balance: You can do your own research on this as well, and in the interview, you can ask questions around customer service expectations outside of business hours, what work/life balance looks like at the company, are you expected to be contactable outside of business hours? Look for employers that support a healthy work/life balance.
Positive Employee Feedback: Look for employers that have positive employee feedback on websites such as Seek or Glassdoor, or speak to current or past employees about their experience, but keep in mind the context of employee feedback and that there’s always two sides to every story. Form your own opinion by doing in-depth research on the company’s data and feedback, the interview and employee feedback.
Ethical and Responsible Business Practices: Positive workplaces promote ethical and responsible business practices. Look for employers that are committed to sustainability, social responsibility, and giving back to their communities.
When you finally find yourself in a positive workplace culture, the contrast to a toxic one is astonishing and you feel like you’ve hit the jackpot – it feels too good to be true. When evaluating a potential employer, it’s important to consider not only the job responsibilities, salary and perks, but also the company culture and values. By asking the right questions and doing your research, you can identify a positive workplace and culture that aligns with your career goals and values.
