2. Finish each day and be done with it.
You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities
have crept in; forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too
high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
3. What does a “negative” work environment look like?
4. What does a “positive” work environment look like?
5. Objectives
• Building Trust
• Positive Communication
• Setting Expectations and Needs
• Creative Ideas for Recognition and Rewards
• Building Team Work
• Finding Meaning in Your Work
• Accepting Responsibility
• Humor in the workplace
6. Building Trust
• Return all phone calls and emails
• Follow up, even if it’s with “I don’t know” or “I have to check into it.”
• Walk the talk
• Be honest and authentic
• Don’t gossip
• Ask yourself “what more can I do to build trust with my colleagues,
managers and family members?”
7. Positive Communication
• 80% of the words should be positive
• Seven Minute whining rule
• A positive communicator sounds like….
What can I learn from this situation
I can totally handle it
I need help
How can I help you
I want to understand, make sure I hear what you are saying.
• Mix up the way you communicate, some verbal, some email, some
text, some phone
8. Setting Expectations and Needs
• Be honest about what you can and cannot do
• Always set the bar as high as you possibly can
• Be a good planner
• Listen, listen, listen
9. Creative Ideas for Recognition and
Rewards
• Smile Teams (Pall Corp. Michigan)
• Ice Cream/Fruit and Veggie Socials
• Birthday and Anniversary Celebrations
• Ask employees what works
• Everyone is different…so, shake it up
• Please and Thank Yous go a long way
• Wall of praises
10. Building Team Work
• Every team member needs to:
Have a genuine interest in every team member
Be an empathetic team member
Feel free to express opinions and ideas
11. Find Meaning in Your Work
• Recognize that people want to know that their job matters
• Show value
• Understand how their work fits into the big picture
• Get involved in community activities
12. Accept Responsibility
• Be prepared for:
– The stressful days
– The negative people
– The mistakes
– The conflicts
– The disappointments
• The Benefits of professionalism
– Be organized – have respect for your workspace
– Have a positive thought for the day
13. Motivational Thought
Ben and Jerry’s has a “Graveyard” of all the
flavors that have “flopped”
How does this create a positive work environment?
14. Appropriate Not Appropriate
• The “fish” philosophy
– It engages people
– Makes them feel better
– It encourages them
• It is just plain “fun”
• Sarcasm
• Never put people down
Humor in the Workplace
15. Group Activity
With the one or two people next to you – share one idea you
have that you could start doing that would make your work
environment more positive.
16. WorkLife4You Resources
• Daily Needs Web Service
– Relationships Library
• On the Job Web Service
– Business Etiquette Library
– Working with Others Library
– Workplace Library
• Interactive Quizzes
Team vs. Individual Orientation
Test, Communication Skills Test,
Emotional IQ Test, Patience Test,
Anger Test
• Audio Tips and Podcasts
How to Shine at Work: Pathways to
Productivity
• On Demand Webinars
Building Better Relationships
Through Effective Communication,
Understanding and Communicating
with a Multigenerational Workforce,
Diversity in the Workplace
• WorkLife4You Guides
Communication Skills for Healthy
Relationships, Conflict Resolution,
Dealing with Difficult People, Tips
for a Healthy Marriage, Business
Etiquette
• Related Web Sites
• HTML Articles
WorkLife4You web site
www.WorkLife4You.com
17. 1717
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