Running a small business requires an owner and operator to fulfill so many roles, sometimes all of them. Though it may not be top-of mind it is excessively important to have a happy and healthy work environment for yourself and your employees no matter what industry. Â Fostering a positive and performance driven work environment means three basic steps, open and consistent communication, appreciation of work, and the development of future goals.
1. Communication
As with any relationship, communication is key. This applies across the board even in a professional work environment. There is no way for employees to know what is expected from them if not told. In the same way, it's vital for employees be able to communicate their own feedback about their work.  Setting up regular check-in meetings either in a group or individual setting can work to improve the overall employee morale and even bring forth great new ideas.
Feedback sessions between employees and the managerial staff help employees feel heard and important in the culture of their work. These meetings can also help develop new ideas for the business or how it could be more effectively run because you'll be hearing from the front lines.
These feedback sessions also allow for the opportunity for the employer to give feedback on the performance of the employee. Opening up the space for the swapping of feedback goes to strengthen the employee-employer relationship and make for a truly nurturing work environment.
2. Praise
When things are tough it's easy to point out the faults in a situation or with the performance of an employee. What we see on the surface may not be the reality that lies beneath. Through feedback sessions you may be able to understand a less obvious reason for a negative situation or a rough streak in focus or determination at work.
No one wants to work at a place that doesn't appreciate their effort and they definitely don't want to show up every day and give a hundred percent to a company that only picks on their weaknesses. Giving positive feedback and focusing on appreciation is likely more important than nit picking on more negative attributes.  Even in a situation when there is a serious issue with the performance or behavior of an employee it is important to at the very least focus on a positive attribute that makes the employee an important part of the team.
3. Development
The sharing of feedback is utterly meaningless if the appropriate action isn't taken to work on areas of weakness. Employee development means that the employer works to not only understand the goals of their employees but also helps nurture those goals into fruition.
Depending upon how personal you'd like your business relationship to become, you may want to help employees set up and document for themselves their goals and have you hold them accountable at these check-in meetings. Not only will this help to make for happy and goal oriented employees, but also it will absolutely build a stronger relationship between employer and employee.
Setting up consistent meetings to help foster a positive and constructive work environment is key to ensuring a happy work environment. Any business owner can tell you that a happy company means happy employees!
Matthew Toren is an Award Winning Author, Serial Entrepreneur, and Investor. He Co-Founded YoungEntrepreneur.com along with his brother Adam. Matthew is co-author of the newly released book: Small Business, Big Vision: “Lessons on How to Dominate Your Market from Self-Made Entrepreneurs Who Did it Right” and also co-author of Kidpreneurs.
