Many employers find it challenging to keep their staff happy, motivated and productive. In many cases, this is because the employees have not ‘fallen in love’ with the workplace and view it purely as a source of income. So how do you get your employees engaged and excited in the workplace?

We spend at least two thirds of our lives in some kind of working environment, so it is important that your employees realise that you take their well-being seriously. Working in a happy and relaxed work environment is key to success, so here are some tips on how to maintain a successful workplace culture:

1. Create goals for your employees

Set and establish the vision and purpose of the team. Define a clear sense of identity and purpose. Communicate frankly with your team. Explain why these challenging goals were selected and why achieving them is so important, both for the organization and for them as individuals. Seek buy-in and work together as a team.

2. Develop empathy

it requires reading the feelings of others and includes developing others, leveraging diversity, and understanding their needs.

3. Schedule time to build relationships

Devote a portion of your day toward relationship building, even if it is just 20 minutes, perhaps broken up into five-minute segments. For example: Take a staff member out for a cup of coffee and spend a few minutes with them. These little interactions help build the foundation of a good relationship, especially if they are face-to-face.

4. Appreciate Others

Show your appreciation whenever someone helps you. Everyone, from the owner to the office cleaner, wants to feel that their work is appreciated. So, genuinely compliment the people around you when they do something well. This will open the door to great work relationships.

5. Avoid Gossiping

Do not gossip or encourage this – office politics are major relationship killers at work. If you are experiencing conflict with someone, talk to them directly about the problem. Gossiping about the situation with others will only exacerbate the situation and will cause mistrust and animosity between you.

6. Listen Actively

Practice active listening. Plan when you talk to your employees. People respond to those who truly listen to what they have to say. Focus on listening more than you talk, and you will quickly become known as someone who can be trusted.