Building a Successful and Harmonious Work Environment
Creating a productive and positive work environment is essential for the success of any team or organization. Here are some key principles to keep in mind:
- Give credit, take responsibility
- Get aligned on timeframes
- Insist on a spec, write one, improve it
- Agree on a budget
- Keep a calendar
- Don’t hold a grudge
- Speak up clearly and generously
- Show your work
- Share your fears
- Make promises and keep them
- Do the reading
- Talk about people only when they’re in the room
- Eagerly find someone more skilled than you to do a given piece of work
- Don’t hoard information
- Wash your own coffee mugs, and someone else’s too
- Celebrate in public, criticize in private
- Don’t hide in meetings (especially the ones you call)
- When you’re not sure, ask
- Say back what you heard to be clear you understand
- Don’t be late
- Say please and thank you
- Find and offer dignity
- Ask what if
- Ask why
- Don’t tolerate bullies
- When solo work is better, insist. Otherwise, pitch in or ask for help…
- Support the people you believe in with honest enthusiasm
- Pick your team with care, invest once you do
- Relentlessly seek better
By following these principles, you can help build a strong and successful team that thrives in a positive work environment.