The Key to a Happy Workplace

The attitudes of our team members are key to creating and maintaining a happy and productive workplace. Being part of a team made up of members who are positive creates an ideal place of employment.

Keith Harrell, a recognized motivational speaker, notes there are 10 key strategies… This text opens a new tab to the article on attitude… to help improve attitude:

1. Self-coaching through affirmation
2. Self-motivation
3. The power of visualization
4. Attitude talk for positive internal dialogue
5. The power of the words-wow
6. The power in positive greeting
7. Enthusiasm
8. Connecting to your spiritual empowerment
9. Lighten up your life with humor
10. Exercising

Leading through challenges

As managers, we know that not all attitudes within the team have an effect on the overall performance of the practice. But a team projecting a positive attitude and working together results in improved productivity and satisfaction while at work.

We as managers need to lead our teams through situations that lend to attitudes taking a nosedive.

Let’s look at some of the factors that affect our practice… This text opens a new tab to the article on workplace productivity…, and how attitude in each case is key:

1. Change or the lack of ability to adapt

Change is difficult for some team members. As managers, we need to help our employees to approach change with a positive attitude, looking for ways to embrace it and implement changes for the good.

2. Teamwork

An employee’s attitude has an impact on how they interact with the team. Employees who embrace the diverseness of the team can foster a spirit of cooperation, making the team more productive.

3. Innovation

Workplace attitude drives the presence of innovation and creativity and ultimately increased productivity.

Team members with a positive attitude toward their job and the practice are more likely to make suggestions or present ideas to help the practice grow.

Conversely, team members displaying a negative attitude may only be concerned with producing enough to get by while having little interest in innovation.

4. Turnover

High turnover in the practice results in not only incurred costs associated with hiring but also reduced productivity until new team members are trained.

Team members with a positive attitude toward their jobs and the practice are less likely to leave for greener pastures, helping companies to minimize the productivity gap associated with turnover.

Positive team = positive practice

One of the books I recommend reading is The Happy Manager… This text opens a new tab to the article on positive attitude in the workplace…, which features the following relevant quote:

“Business people who are the busiest, the happiest, and the most prosperous are the ones who are the most generous with their knowledge and their expertise. People who love what they’re doing, who love to learn new things, to meet new people, and to share what and whom they know with others: these are the people who wind up creating the new economic value and, as a result, moving their companies forward.”

To sum it up, a positive team equals a positive practice. A positive practice equals a productive practice.

As Ephesians 4:31-32 states,

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

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Meet the Author

Leslie holds multiple degrees and certifications in business management, marketing, and dental assisting.

Over the past 20 years, she has grown her dental knowledge and skills to encompass the ultimate “top-notch” patient experience for each of her practice’s clients. One of her favorite parts of dentistry is caring for multiple generations of the same family who grew up as patients and now have children of their own.

Leslie is past president of the AADOM Wilmington, NC… This text opens a new tab to the Wilmington, NC chapter website… and was nominated for Practice Administrator of the Year.