The mind your business attitude at the workplace is never an indication of growth, synergy, and communication in an organization. If there is one thing that kills workplace morale and efficiency faster, it is workplace negativity.
Human resources everywhere understand the importance of communication between employees. In this light, many of them have been employing every means that seem fit to engage their employees and maintain a sane atmosphere in the workplace.
Workplace negativity is like a cancerous growth that saps every energy in the workplace. When this happens, all attention gets diverted from quality work performance. It is important to make a mental note of the fact that workplace negativity can take on any form. Some of them include:
Internal negativity: What comes out of employees most time, is a product of their state of internal well-being. Employees are not capable of projecting negative behaviors if they have not thought of it. Therefore, in combating internal negativity, HR has to tackle it at the root (the mindset.)
External negativity: Unlike internal negativity that is entirely premised on employee mindset, External negativity occur as a result of interaction between employees and the physical work environment. External negativity are easier to correct, however, they cause more harm to organizational unity. A single act of negativity by an employee is enough to dampen the morale of other employees and cause the whole productivity to crash.
These two forms of negativity are such that HR should watch out for. Most occur in attitudes, the outlook, conversational tone, and talk between fellow employees.
The most efficient ways through which HR can effectively combat workplace negativity is to get through to each employee on a personal level. The human resource in an organization should position itself in a way that allows them to act as the bridge between the employee and the management. This way, they can monitor the interaction between the employees, communicate employee complaint to the management, and give feedback to the employees.
Most factors that account for external and internal negativity in the workplace are anchored on three things:
- Lack of trust and confidence in the management
- Absence of community among employees
- Employee lack of control over work schedule and routine.
If HR can effectively solve these three problems, they can eliminate workplace negativity or reduce it to the barest minimum. The best bet against negativity, however, is to prevent it from occurring.
How to manage and curb workplace negativity?
- Make your employees feel in charge of their routine: This is the best way to tackle internal negativity as far workplace negativity is concerned. So far as the reason for the change in attitude is tied to factors within the organization, allowing employees control over their schedule is the best way to tackle it.
HR should strive to provide every employee with an opportunity to make their own decision to a considerable extent. It is wrong to make every decision about employee work life without any input from whom it may concern.
- Create a channel for expression: HR should put in place a channel through which employee can express their view about the policies and procedures in the workplace as it affects them. Some of such policies include working hours, benefits, overtime, dress code, etc. HR should identify factors that affect the physical and mental wellbeing of employees and make sure every employee has a say in that regard.
- Treat your employees with respect: respect is when an organization makes policy and consistently apply the policy. This is the starting point that builds confidence in the management system. Organizations should not turn the workplace into an army barrack where everyone has to breathe in rules. Realize that you are working with adults and minimize workplace rules.
- Carry everyone along: communication is another way to increase positive workplace attitudes and the feeling of community among employees. Ensure that every employee has access to the same level of basic information at the same time. Management should encourage the feeling of solidarity among employees that is geared towards the fulfillment of organizational goals.
- Recognize efforts and give rewards: Rewards are one of the few ways that management can make employees feel valued. Be on the constant watch to recognize hard work and reward it. It goes a long way to improve employee morale.
Any organizational issue can be addressed as long as the atmosphere is still positive. Human resources everywhere should do all it can to manage employee relations and improve the overall outlook of the organization.
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For a more detailed approach to Communication in the workplace we have available our Manual – Effective Communication. A detailed manual that cover the below and so much more
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Understanding Your Own Personal Style
The Four Everyday Basic Styles of Communication.
What Style of Communication Do You Use in the Workplace.
What’s Your Style? – Julie Cook.
Introvert v Extrovert.
Non-Verbal Communication.
Bias in the Workplace Communication.
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