A positive work environment can bring out the best in you and your coworkers, but it doesn’t just happen by accident. So how do you create this atmosphere in the first place? What are the benefits of positive team environment? What goes into making your workplace feel more like home? Keep reading to learn more about what makes teams thrive and the role you play in creating that atmosphere.
1. Problem-Solving Together
The power of team is that it allows people to brainstorm, communicate, and problem solve together. That collaborative process is how most great things are created; in fact, studies show that groups can often come up with better solutions than individuals. Each person brings his or her own knowledge and perspectives to a group—and those interactions can lead to innovation and creativity.
A study showed that ideation performance (how creative an idea is) improves with group interaction because every person has different experiences and approaches problems differently. The more interaction, ideas, and perspectives there are—the more likely you are to come up with something new or innovate on existing ways of doing things.
2. Motivation
One of our easiest and most effective ways to get more done, improve our performance and feel more fulfilled is by having positive people around us. This doesn’t mean that we should be surrounded by unicorns and rainbows – but rather, people who are honest with us and support us in meeting our goals. Having positive people around you will help you thrive in all areas of your life: your career, friendships, romantic relationships and even at home with your family.
3. Creative Freedom
Having creative freedom in your work helps you better understand what makes you happy. Not only does it give you a chance to explore your passions, but it’s also shown to make people happier. The research examined individuals’ personalities before and after creativity training. The results? Creativity training led to improvements in subjective well-being. In other words, even if you’re not an artist or designer, being able to flex those muscles can improve your own happiness levels.
4. Improved Morale
A positive team environment can help improve morale and keep people on track. Having a more upbeat, supportive environment not only makes you feel better but can also give you greater clarity in thinking and have you deliver results more efficiently. Kamala shared several anecdotes from former teammates who raved about how much they benefitted from being on her team. Teammates cheered each other on, made one another laugh through tough times, and shared their insights throughout what turned out to be a very contentious election cycle.
5. Greater Productivity
A good environment makes us feel better. We work harder and smarter when we are happy. When we are happy, our productivity increases. This is true whether we are working at home, at a job, or even while volunteering. A positive team atmosphere creates a sense of belonging. People want to belong to something bigger than themselves. They want to contribute to something greater than their individual goals.
Conclusion
While some managers will stick to transactional relationships and not actively engage with their teams, there are plenty of leaders who dedicate time and energy to building authentic relationships with their team members. Whether you work for a manager who interacts regularly or one who has difficulty getting away from that spreadsheet, we hope you’ll agree that Becoming a Kamala is vital in creating an encouraging environment.