A Cure for Emotional Leakage and Other Negative Workplace Behaviors
It’s a simple rule in business: Happy employees lead to happy customers. According to a report from MIT Sloan Management Review, a toxic corporate culture is 10.4 times more powerful than compensation in predicting a company’s attrition rate. A toxic work culture can involve many negative workplace behaviors like gossip, unhealthy boundaries, negativity, and emotional leakage. Few things are more unfair and damaging than emotionally leaking a negative experience on someone who wasn’t involved. And yet, unfortunately, it happens every day.
What is Emotional Leakage?
You — or your employees — may be in a bad mood from an argument, a flat tire, or from breaking a favorite item, but that shouldn’t leak into your business. People always remember how you treated them and how you made them feel. Emotional leakage is a no-no in customer service. Franchise business owners can stop emotional leakage and other types of negative workplace behaviors by following the tips below for preventing a toxic work environment.
10 Tips to Preventing a Toxic Work Environment
- Foster open communication: Encourage employees to voice their opinions and concerns without fear of retribution. Create channels for feedback and make it clear that all feedback is valued and will be taken seriously.
- Lead by example: Set a positive example for your team by demonstrating respect, kindness, and professionalism in all of your interactions with others.
- Hire the right people: Hire employees who align with the company culture and values. Look for individuals who are team players, positive, and respectful.
- Create clear expectations: Define clear expectations for all employees, including their roles and responsibilities, and set clear boundaries around acceptable behavior.
- Promote work-life balance: Encourage employees to take breaks and prioritize their well-being. Provide opportunities for team building and socialization outside of work.
- Offer support and resources: Provide access to resources for mental health, stress management, and conflict resolution.
- Address conflict proactively: Address conflicts as they arise and seek to resolve them through mediation or other means.
- Provide regular feedback: Provide feedback on job performance regularly, both positive and constructive. This will help employees understand what they’re doing well and where they can improve.
- Encourage professional development: Encourage employees to pursue professional development opportunities, such as training, workshops, or mentorship programs.
- Recognize and reward positive behavior: Recognize and reward positive behavior and contributions to the team. This will promote a positive culture and motivate employees to continue performing at their best
A toxic work environment can ruin a business. By taking steps toward preventing a negative culture, franchise business owners can create a healthy and productive workplace culture that benefits everyone involved.