How To Create A Thriving Work Environment
Nov 14, 2022
Leadership Seeds
"Being a great place to work is the difference between being a good company and a great company."
― Brian Kristofek
As leaders we have a responsibility to make our environment one that is conducive to success. We must create a climate in which potential leaders can thrive. We have a choice. We can be a thermometer or a thermostat. A thermometer is passive, it just measures how hot or cold the environment is. A thermostat determines what the environment will be.
One of the most popular fish for an aquarium is a shark. Not only do they look way cool in your aquarium, but they don’t ever outgrow the size of your fishbowl. If you catch a small shark and confine it, it will stay a size that is proportionate to their environment. A shark can be fully mature at 6 inches long. Turn them loose into the ocean and they will grow to full size.
The same is true of potential leaders—confining environments ensure that they stay small and underdeveloped.
Here are some ways to create a environment where team members can thrive:
1. Create a speak up environment. In a speak up environment, comments are welcomed, participation is encouraged, good ideas are encouraged. We listen to new ideas without judgement. When I did that as a CEO, I received some fabulous ideas to implement that helped grow our organization.
2. Problems are viewed as possibilities and opportunities. If we are gifted with the sight to see a problem, we will have a solution. There is always a solution…in fact there’s always more than one solution. We don’t think “can I?” we think “how can I?”
Problems are normally viewed as negative, but if we change our attitudes—WOW! We can weaken emotional responses, stay calm and keep our eyes open to solutions. Yes, a positive attitude allows us to see many solutions because we have not stifled our creativity. Creating this climate for growth allows most problems to be solved by our teams. Only the most difficult come up to the leaders.
3. Failures are viewed as “learns.” I was always surprised at what my teams would attempt because I embraced failure. Failure and success totally go together. All of these things were considered epic fails to begin with :
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Post-it notes
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Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team
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Bubble wrap was invented to be textured wall paper. (hahaha! can you imagine that?)
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Wheaties was bran porridge spilled on a stove top. When it dried, it became flakes and was tastier than the porridge.
Failure is part of the process of success…if we learn from those "failures." (You can use these ideas in your families, as well!)
This list is not exhaustive and I'm sure you can think of more ways. When you create an environment where people can thrive, everyone can be their best and desire to give their best. That is a great environment in which to work.
(This is an excerpt from a workshop that I facilitate "Developing the Leaders Around You.)
I hope this added value,
Jan
Jan McDonald
The John Maxwell Team
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