Leaders, master these 7-habits to create a positive workplace environment!

(backed by science)

Hashim

Nov 19, 2023

Hello friend! 👋

Here’s a new format.

I will cover the full story in a concise short version.

If that resonates, you can carry on to the long version.

If it is sufficient you can move on to other important things in your day.

Have a Super Sunday! 🙌

The Short Version

If you want your team to succeed, you need to actively prioritize and improve the below 7 habits (according to positive organizational psychology):

Recognizing
Delegating
Allowing
Serving
Listening
Gamifying
Strengthening

One way to bring this to life is to create a 7-week plan prioritizing each topic for a week and finding ways to intentionally bring it to life.

Have fun with it and watch your team’s well-being and performance dramatically increase.

The Long Version

We spend more than half our waking lives at work.

If you include the commuting, getting ready for, and the work taken home then work surely consists of a lot more than half.

As leaders of organizations (or entrepreneurs with teams to manage), our responsibility is to ensure this time creates a positive impact on the team’s life (professional and personal).

According to positive organizational psychology, a good leader is one who is able to continuously practice the below:

Recognizing

Nothing hurts more than good work left unnoticed.

Especially for those who are ambitious and making sacrifices to make this work happen.

Don’t be that kind of leader
Know how your team likes to be recognized (hint: not everyone likes a public celebration)
Celebrate all wins, especially the small ones
Encourage failures en route to innovation and problem-solving

Delegating

When you entrust your team to make a decision on your behalf, it empowers and develops them.

I’ve seen many managers abuse this and make secretaries out of their team.

This sucks, and people can see right through it.

It damages trust.

Instead:
Delegate decisions, not tasks
Allow room for failure, that’s the best way the team can learn
Avoid micro-managing

Allowing

Psychological safety has been rated one of the most critical components of a positive workplace.

It is the only way a team is able to communicate effectively, be their authentic self, and make creative connections.

Foster more psychological safety by:
Listening to understand rather than critique
Not only sharing feedback but accepting feedback openly
Allow for compassion, rather than fear, to be the motivator

Serving

Many leaders chase leadership roles for the money or the status.

But this gets boring at one point, psychologists call it the “hedonic treadmill” with a diminishing return.

Instead, viewing work as a service in supporting others can give it meaning and purpose
Create a clear vision so teams are focused on what matters
Clear up clutter, bureaucracy, and invisible ceilings that prevent quick decision-making
Resolve conflicts and lead through common values

Listening

If there is anything a team expects from their leader, it would be just to listen.

In listening you are able to know their true challenges, ambitions, motivators, and obstacles.

Only then a vision is empowering and transformational
Spend informal time with the team to build emotional capital
Share frequent surveys to sense the organization
Take actions based on feedback received, it is what matters most

Gamifying

The most successful leaders I’ve met are those who do this part well.

Life’s fun when it is viewed as a game, and we have a natural tendency to put in effort and win.

Work doesn’t have to be boring:
Invest in good IT systems to visualize performance
Create tournaments/sprints throughout the year with a leaderboard
Include training for personal skills (not only professional ones)

Strengthening

A resilient organization is not one that never fails, but one that never gives up.

As a leader, you can increase your organization’s resiliency by strengthening it
Invest in solid emotional intelligence training (like mindfulness courses)
Support the organization with stress management tools (training, equipment, etc..)
Activate group physical activity exercises to promote physical well-being

There you have it, 7 habits that can create a positive workplace environment.

Pick one for next week and spend the first day brainstorming with your team how to best activate it (best strategies are those co-created, not shoved down the organization’s throat!)

Consistency, not speed, is what matters most here.

And don’t forget to have fun!

Have a Super Sunday! 💪

With much joy,