There’s No Place Like… Work?
I am willing to bet the title of this article caught you off guard. The original, “There’s no place like home,” comes from the film “The Wizard of Oz”. Dorothy has just discovered that despite her adventures, she still can return home. It may be a stretch to compare “The Wizard of Oz” to our daily lives. And yet, like Dorothy many of us spend the day just wanting to go home, leading to stress, apathy and disengagement. How can we overcome these challenges and make the workplace both positive and productive?
We need to make the workplace more like home. We are relaxed and positive at home. We don’t watch the clock in desperation, or dream about what’s going on outside the window. And if companies can create a similar environment of happiness and comfort, positive psychology research shows that productivity and engagement will increase.
We want to be happy to come to work, and we want the same for our co-workers. And while we may have little control over a co-worker’s personal situation outside the workplace, each day we have an opportunity to make a difference at work.
Tools for creating a positive environment
One way to create a positive workplace is to simply acknowledge your team. Consider a quick complement, such as, “Great job on that presentation William! I can tell that you put a lot of work into it.” This statement may not effect anything tangible, but it communicates appreciation and confidence. William can take pride in his work, motivating him for future achievement. As Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, pioneer of the Broaden and Build Theory of positive psychology, says, ”telling people they do good work is a way to unlock their bold dreams about what they could strive for next.”
We come in every morning to do our jobs, but a positive and successful workplace is about much more. When you receive positive feedback from your supervisor or grab lunch with a friend at work, you will find pleasure and joy in your workplace. The people that we work with have the potential to make a large impact on our lives. You don’t need a pair of red, sparkly shoes or the clock striking five to go home. You just need a new definition of “workplace”.
Alexis Brightman graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a major in Psychology and minor in Environmental Studies.