How to create a positive working environment: 5 high-impact strategies

It doesn’t matter whether you run an online company or a brick-and-mortar business. If you’re working with a team — or thinking about how to hire employees in the future — you must consider how to create a positive working environment. 

A positive workplace helps to:

• Foster collaboration and boost productivity 

• Nurture a high-performing team who can ensure smooth operations management and support your business growth strategies

• Increase employee engagement, job satisfaction, and well-being — all of which contribute to employee retention

• Optimise your available resources and small business budget for maximum impact

• Build an inclusive and respectful workplace culture that reflects well on your business and your brand 

Try these 5 high-impact strategies to create a positive work environment for you and your team — regardless of your budget, company type, or size. 

1. Ensure a positive onboarding experience 

In a positive work environment, every employee feels valued. And while it may take a while for new staff to feel like part of the team, you can set the right tone with a positive onboarding experience.

Besides all the necessary admin (such as signing paperwork and running through health and safety protocols), go above and beyond to help new team members settle in.

Here’s how to create a stellar onboarding experience and lay the foundation for a positive work environment:

Send a warm welcome in advance

Just before a new employee is due to start, send them a pre-onboarding welcome email. Let them know what they can expect from their first day at work, remind them of any documents they need to bring, and share how happy you are to have them on board.

Explain your mission and values

Share the story of your company: how you went from exploring small business ideas to identifying your target market, creating a USP for your business, and writing a mission statement. This will help new employees feel invested in their role and the company.

Discuss their role and set expectations

In a happy and productive workplace, employees have a sense of purpose. They understand what they’re working towards and how they can contribute to the company’s success. Set goals and expectations, discuss performance management techniques, and clarify the employee’s role and responsibilities. 

Encourage questions

As part of the onboarding experience, create plenty of time and space for employees to ask questions. During their first week especially, schedule a check-in at the end of each day to see how they’re getting on. This enables you to address concerns early on — and sets a precedent for open communication.

Organise something social

Plan a lunch or coffee morning (or something similar) so new hires can socialise with the team in an informal setting. This helps put them at ease and encourages team bonding.

Plan ahead to make sure you’ve got all bases covered. You want new hires to be met with structure, clarity, and a warm welcome.

2. Create a clean and comfortable workspace

Having navigated the legal requirements for starting a small business and hiring employees, you’re no doubt familiar with workplace health and safety laws.

But, when thinking about how to create a positive working environment, those laws are just the beginning. You don’t only want your workplace to be safe. You also want it to be comfortable, welcoming, and inviting — inspiring, even.

Consider these tips to create a space where your employees can thrive:

Provide a comfortable break room

Make sure employees have a dedicated space where they can switch off and relax. Offer comfortable seating, tea and coffee-making facilities, and somewhere your employees can prepare and eat meals.

Choose ergonomic furniture

If your employees are working a desk job, consider investing in ergonomic chairs and adjustable desks. If you’re focusing on how to run a business in retail or hospitality, provide anti-fatigue mats. These are specially designed to offer comfort and support, and to reduce the pressure placed on muscles and joints during long periods of standing.

Pay attention to lighting

A well-lit workspace can make all the difference. Depending on what kind of business you’re operating and the venue/office space you’ve got, consider how to maximise natural light, offer flexible lighting options (e.g. individual desk lamps or dimmable overhead lights), and think about warm vs. cool lighting for different areas of the workplace.

Add some greenery

Having plants in the workplace has been shown to boost employee mood, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being. As long as it’s suitable for the type of business you’re running, add some low-maintenance indoor plants to brighten up the workplace and make it feel more inviting. 

Keep the workplace clean and clutter-free

Ensure that all common areas are cleaned regularly, and provide adequate storage (such as shelves, drawers, and cupboards) so that all equipment and tools can be tidied away. Not only is this crucial from a health and safety perspective; it’s also essential for maintaining a productive and welcoming environment.

3. Promote psychological safety and emotional well-being 

Creating a positive work environment is as much about emotional comfort as it is about physical.

By promoting psychological safety and well-being, you can establish a workplace that’s inclusive, productive, and pleasant for everybody.

So how do you do that? Follow these simple yet impactful steps:

Enforce regular breaks (and lead by example)

Be diligent about scheduling short breaks throughout the day for all staff — and make sure you take breaks yourself. This helps to prevent burnout, improve focus, and create a workplace culture that prioritises health and well-being.

Encourage open communication and constructive feedback

Psychological safety is all about creating an environment where everybody feels comfortable sharing their thoughts, ideas, and concerns without fear of judgement. Hold regular check-ins — both individually and with the whole team — where feedback is encouraged, and model transparent and respectful communication at all times.

Foster a friendly atmosphere

There’s nothing more detrimental to employee well-being — and the overall work environment — than a tense, uncomfortable atmosphere. Small and simple gestures such as greeting each other warmly, celebrating achievements, and organising occasional social events can all help to promote a sense of togetherness and camaraderie.

Ensure everybody feels seen, heard, and valued

Encourage all team members to share their ideas and perspectives, and make an effort to recognise every employee’s contributions — no matter their role or seniority level. This not only boosts engagement and well-being; it also drives better problem-solving, productivity, and collaboration for your business.

Be flexible where possible

Flexibility can have a huge impact on employee well-being, especially in small businesses where staff tend to juggle multiple tasks and responsibilities. If possible, allow for flexible working hours, and be open to accommodating employees’ individual needs and circumstances. This promotes a healthy work-life balance and creates an environment where employees feel supported.

4. Provide training and tools for success 

In a positive work environment, employees are empowered to succeed. They have all the tools they need to perform their role, and they’re able to learn and grow on the job.

This fosters a highly engaged and productive workforce — creating a workplace where employees can truly make an impact.

Here’s how to set your team up for success:

Provide all necessary tools and equipment

Think about all the physical tools and/or software an employee needs to carry out their role. Say you’re hiring baristas for your café, for example — you’d need to provide things like aprons, hygiene gloves, and tools to facilitate cashless payments, such as card machines and POS software. 

Eliminate bottlenecks and pain-points

Beyond essential tools, consider what additional provisions you can make to address day-to-day frustrations and make your employees’ lives easier. If staff are constantly grappling with the card machine not working, for example, it’s time to invest in a new one. If employees regularly express frustration about a cumbersome or complex process, discuss how you can streamline and improve.

Provide role-specific training

Help your employees develop skills that will support them in their role. You might run a workshop on managing client expectations and share techniques for how to deal with difficult clients, for example — or provide training in how to deliver good customer service. Offer training that’s relevant and directly applicable to your workplace.

Encourage on-the-job learning and cross-training

The benefits of training employees don’t only come from formal training. Encourage more organic, on-the-job learning, too — by providing real-time feedback, for example, or inviting employees to shadow you on certain tasks. This gives employees the opportunity to learn additional skills beyond their primary role, and creates a versatile, multi-skilled workforce.

Lead with trust and encourage autonomy

As a small business owner, the urge to micromanage can be hard to quash. But if you want to create a positive work environment and empower your staff to succeed, you must give them the space to do so. Don’t be afraid to delegate and let employees make decisions within their roles. This builds trust, boosts confidence, and fosters ownership and accountability.

5. Celebrate the wins 

In the day-to-day hustle of running a business, you can easily forget to pause and reflect on your achievements — and those of your team. 

But if you want to create a positive work environment, you must take the time to recognise and celebrate your employees’ contributions.

Here’s how to motivate employees and foster a culture that celebrates success:

Practice gratitude

In small businesses especially, employees are often required to be flexible, adaptable, and go above and beyond. As an employer, it’s important to express gratitude and show your appreciation. You might pull someone aside at the end of their shift to say thank you for covering at short notice, for example, or thank them for working overtime to finish a project.

Offer verbal recognition and praise

Regularly acknowledge both individual achievements and team accomplishments. Whether it’s during a team meeting or in casual conversation, a sincere “Great job!” or “I loved the idea you had for XYZ” can go a long way.

Celebrate milestones

Recognise both personal and business-related milestones such as work anniversaries, completing a big project, or achieving a company first. A small team celebration or even a shout-out on social media can help employees feel connected to — and proud of — the company’s success. 

Offer small yet thoughtful rewards

Employee recognition doesn’t need to be expensive. Let’s face it: most small businesses don’t have the cash flow for lavish gifts. And that’s perfectly fine — there are plenty of low-cost but meaningful rewards that your employees will appreciate. Extra breaks, a small gift voucher, coffee on the house, or letting employees choose a shift or task they prefer; these are all great ways to reward hard work without stretching your budget.

Involve employees in the company’s success

Keep your team in the loop about what’s going on behind the scenes. Share positive news and updates — such as glowing customer feedback, your plans for how to scale the business, or a successful round of small business crowdfunding. This helps employees see the impact of their work — and reinforces the sense that they’re part of a shared mission.

Key takeaways and next steps

You can’t expect your employees to be productive, engaged, and motivated if you don't provide a positive work environment.

As an employer, it’s your responsibility to empower your team to succeed — and create a workplace where everybody feels safe, valued, and supported. In this guide, we’ve shown you how you can do this by:

• Ensuring a positive onboarding experience

• Creating a clean, comfortable, and accessible workplace

• Promoting psychological safety and emotional well-being

• Providing necessary training and tools

• Celebrating success

Next steps

Ready to implement the strategies we’ve shared? Consider the following steps to get started:

1. Define your vision for a positive work environment. No two businesses are the same, and the definition of a positive workplace can look very different from one company to the next. Start by defining what a positive workplace means for you, then focus on the steps and strategies that will help you achieve that vision. 

2. Encourage and embrace feedback. When it comes to creating a positive work environment, no workplace or employer is perfect. There’s always something you can improve upon, and building a positive workplace should be iterative and ongoing. Regularly gather employee feedback, concerns, and suggestions, and commit to continuous improvements.