What is the working environment? How is work environment Ideal for you?
It may have an attractive physical space, a relaxed atmosphere or friendly conversations from table to table. For those who work online, it might be a quick response to a Slack query or an enthusiastic greeting when you log into a Zoom meeting. Regardless of the environment, you feel like you're in a place where you can thrive.
A toxic work environment can give you the opposite feeling. Some organizations create company cultures focused solely on productivity and success, assuming that a high-pressure, results-focused environment will drive profits. But it can leave you feeling stressed, unappreciated, and exhausted.
Promoting a healthy work environment will improve workplace productivity, employee satisfaction, and other positive outcomes that benefit both the organization and workers.
Here are some workplace improvement ideas to create an overall company culture where colleagues at every level feel respected.
What is the working environment?
The work environment is the space—physical and emotional—in which employees perform their daily tasks. It's a combination of three important ingredients:
- Physical environment: This includes the layout and amenities of a brick-and-mortar office, including items such as desk space, lighting and location. For remote workers, the physical environment refers to software, tools, and equipment.
- Working conditions: These are the terms on which employees agree to perform their jobs, such as compensation and benefits, reporting structures, and safety regulations.
- Company culture: Culture describes how an organization operates at a societal level. Some aspects are more formal, like a company mission statement or an open communication policy. Other issues, such as office politics, are not approved but still have influence.
Combined, these components create a work environment that affects the workflow and mood of every employee. Research shows that 35% job seekers will turn down the perfect role if they don't connect with the company culture, proving how important a positive environment is. But a healthy workplace goes beyond a company's ability to attract talent. A positive work environment can:
- Improve employee retention: Employees are 7 times more likely to stay with a company with a positive work culture.
- Drive innovation: Motivation to work effectively in a constructive environment fosters innovation and creative problem solving.
- Increased productivity: Studies show that happy workers are more productive.
- Reduced costs: A positive workplace can minimize stress and burnout, reducing organizational healthcare costs by approximately 50%.
- Minimize absenteeism: Nearly 12 unplanned days off each year stem from poor employee mental health, and a supportive environment can reduce that impact.
- Improved reputation: Companies known for caring for their employees had 100% more applicants for open positions thanks to positive public perception.
Types of working environments
According to the Career Choice Theory of John L. Holland (American Psychologist, he is the creator of the career development model, the Dutch Career Theme, commonly known as the Dutch Code), the attract workers with basic personality traits. Knowing your team's personality – their common traits, values and interests – will help you create an office atmosphere that works for almost everyone.
Below is a list of six Dutch environments to use as a guide. Remember that no environment is a perfect match for these types. You might also consider combining several different styles if that better meets your group's needs.
1. Reality
- Great for: Hands-on movement workers
- Industry: Engineering, maintenance, construction, agriculture
Real workers thrive in an interactive workplace that focuses on hard skills. These employees are often practical, work-oriented, and hands-on. A streamlined, physical workspace, with clear expectations and the tools needed to do their job.
2. Investigation
- Good for: Researchers or problem solvers
- Industry: Health, technology, engineering
Investigative environments require research, critical thinking, and experimentation, just like laboratories and innovative technology companies. People with a curious mindset benefit from this open and collaborative environment where they can actively discuss solutions and challenge each other's reasoning.
3. Art
- Good for: Creators
- Industry: Advertising, design, creative arts
An artistic work environment nurtures people who thrive on innovation, experimentation and personal expression. Workers need an open, flexible environment that allows them to work collaboratively or individually at their own pace, providing structure only when needed.
4. Society
- Good for: Cooperative workers
- Industry: Education, nursing, social services, consulting
Workers in these environments are people-oriented, often demonstrating excellent interpersonal skills and high levels of empathy. People who work in these jobs regularly experience social interactions and emotional bonds.
These conditions are often related to workplace stressors, such as stress relief and serious medical emergencies, so it is essential to create an environment that supports health employee mental health.
5. Be bold
- Great for: Goal-oriented workers
- Industry: Real estate, sales, politics
This work environment has a competitive component. Sales, strategic planning and debating work-related issues are the focus. Corporate culture should focus on communication and teamwork to help people achieve their goals in a healthy way.
6. Usually
- Good for: Traditionalists
- Industry: Finance, management
This traditional environment attracts organized people who like routine. The workday is orderly and reliable, and employees won't encounter many surprises at the office. These jobs often involve collecting and organizing data.
John L. Holland's interpretation of the environment
Keep in mind that not every workplace is suitable for one of John L. Holland's vocational settings, and his theories may not be applicable to independent workers. While each environment is harmless, any of them can become a hostile work environment if you use unhealthy motivational techniques to get work done, negating your efforts in creating a positive workplace.
What type of environment do employees work best in?
Employees work best in positive environments, and these environments come in all shapes and sizes. Some employees find the social atmosphere energizing, while others may find the quiet, meditation-like environment more effective.
A reward-based carrot-and-stick approach may increase productivity for one team, while others may prefer a more collaborative model.
Get to know your team and learn their interests. You can collaborate with them to find the right balance and foster a positive environment that works for the team.
How to create a positive work environment
Researching different types of work environments can help you narrow down which one will benefit your team the most, but that's only part of the job.
Each industry attracts its own type of worker, so learning about your teammates' individual needs can help identify common denominators. From those consultations, you can begin to develop a plan that balances employee benefits and business priorities.
Be flexible and remember that not every environment works perfectly for everyone. Your goal is to create the best corporate culture possible. Doing so means understanding that your teammates are people, not collections of characteristics. Share your plan and solicit their input.
Your employees are most familiar with what produces their best work and can provide valuable insights. Here are more tips for creating a happy, healthy, and successful atmosphere:
1. Create an impactful job description
Start by hiring people who fit your existing culture. Someone who likes to work alone won't thrive in a social workplace, so be upfront about what they can expect.
Write a realistic job title with purpose, duties and responsibilities, and be honest when describing working conditions, expectations and salary.
2. Invest time and money in workplace culture
Fair compensation, office amenities, and paid time off policies are all investments that help create a positive workplace culture. Conduct employee surveys and establish initiatives to foster a healthier environment based on your team's input.
If you notice departments feeling disconnected from each other, plan a team-building activity to bring them together.
3. Find ways to show appreciation for a job well done
Showing gratitude in the workplace helps employees feel valued and organizations achieve more when they have a motivated and engaged workforce.
Showing appreciation can be as simple as sending a thank you email or hosting a pizza party to celebrate the successful completion of a project. You can even set up a formal performance incentive program for extra motivation.
If you plan to recognize an individual's contributions, discuss it with them first. Not everyone is comfortable receiving public praise, so respect their needs.
4. Trust your team
Micromanagement has been proven to decrease productivity, whether it's from coworkers or managers. You can avoid scrutinizing those around you by being transparent about job requirements and being consistent with expectations.
And if you see someone completing a task differently than you, be open-minded and let them use their own methods. Step in when someone is clearly in need or asking for support.
5. Keep support staff
Cultural fit is essential to developing a high-performing team. If a team member's values, attitudes, or processes start to hurt the rest of the team and they don't make changes based on your feedback, you can appeal or fire them. . Difficult colleagues only bring the team down.
6. Develop a flexible working policy
Invest in employee well-being by providing options for varied, compressed and hybrid work schedules. No one work environment is right for everyone, but you can create options that work. Flexible schedules and remote work options can improve work-life balance and increase productivity.
7. Maintain an open line of communication
Create open and honest lines of communication with your team. Workplace culture directly impacts them, so ask for their opinion, whether you want to know how to decorate the office or set performance goals.
An environment of mutual feedback and communication helps reduce workplace conflict and improve team spirit.
Common cultural mistakes
Creating a friendly and positive work culture takes trial and error, but avoiding these common mistakes in the first place can simplify the process.
1. Work through breaks
You and your team need to recharge your mental batteries to work to the best of your ability, and you can't ignore the importance of breaks. No matter how busy you are, skipping lunch or breaks can lead to exhaustion, loss of focus, and decreased productivity.
Try not to skip breaks or encourage others to do so.
2. Point out mistakes
Instead of drawing attention to mistakes and viewing them as something to avoid, turn them into learning opportunities. Discuss issues gently and privately, and offer support if needed. Constructive feedback helps people feel confident in their abilities and comfortable asking for help.
3. Ignore employee personality
Give people space to express their individuality in the workplace, as long as it doesn't interfere with their workflow. Incorporating your co-workers' interests and passions into their work helps them know they are valued as a whole and creates a sense of belonging.
If a team member enjoys hosting social events, give them a chance to take the lead at the next holiday party.
Make a positive work environment a reality
According to Huffington Post, the average person spends more than 13 years of their life at work. A few hours a day in a toxic work environment may seem insignificant, but over a decade is a long time. Working in a place that doesn't suit your needs isn't worth 13 years of dissatisfaction.
That is one reason why the Great Resignation began. Entering the post-pandemic era, more and more employees are quitting their jobs for cultural reasons. Studies show that feelings of disrespect, lack of flexibility and low pay – all factors based on the work environment – are the leading reasons employees leave.
A fun and supportive work environment exists but takes effort to manage and maintain. As a manager, you can contribute by listening to your employees and working to meet their expectations.
And as a team member, you can do the same, collaborating with those around you and paying attention to their needs. If you feel the environment needs improvement, speak up. Your team will thank you.
Nurture a healthy environment
An ideal work environment not only provides clean and comfortable workplaces. A positive company culture includes meaningful rewards, recognition and opportunities for employees to grow and advance their careers.
If you want to change your work environment, try starting a conversation about your team's needs and offering specific ways to improve. Choose one of Holland's environment types or combine them to build one that works for you.
Making an effort to protect your energy and create a positive environment will benefit everyone around you.
G Office – Dynamic, creative and positive shared working environment
G Office is more than just one shared office rental service but also a destination for those who are looking for a dynamic, creative and positive multidisciplinary working environment. With flexible space and full amenities, G Office is not only a workplace but also a diverse community with businesses and individuals from many different fields. Here, the sharing of ideas and experiences is encouraged, thereby creating a vibrant atmosphere and facilitating creativity.
Each member of the community has the right to freedom in their personal and business development. G Office is not only a place to provide workspace but also a destination for inclusion, collaboration and shared success.
Coming to us, you can focus 100% on your work, all office administration issues have G Office ready to support you at any time.
Contact us today! Our team always listens and helps you quickly find the most suitable working environment.
