You depend on your employees to take care of customers and take your business to the next level. When an employee revealed concerns about working in a hostile work environment, you felt shocked. Where did these concerns come from?
FastCompany explains how bosses make employees feel like they work in a hostile workspace. Before your situation spirals out of control, learn how to take the reins back and help your workers feel at peace.
Grabbing credit
Sometimes, leaders get credit rightly owed to their team. To help employees feel appreciated and seen, bosses must share credit and acknowledge their workers’ contributions to the company’s success.
Casting blame
When things go wrong, some leaders point fingers at employees rather than take responsibility. If that happens, workers could feel like their boss may fling them under the bus without a second thought. During hard times, it helps if bosses consider the part they played in the matter. For instance, perhaps an employee needed more training before tackling a task.
Fostering uncertainty
The mood in a workplace may curdle if employees do not know what to expect. Bosses must communicate and reiterate their expectations, so everyone stays on the same page. It also helps to inform employees of changes as soon as shifts happen, not wait until the last minute. Company leaders must also get comfortable with not knowing something and sharing their lack of knowledge with employees. Working in an uncertain work environment often makes employees feel anxious, which may affect productivity and loyalty.
Creating a healthy work environment may not only help you keep employees, but also remain on the right side of the law. Understand the part you play in fostering a balanced workplace.