Would you say you are currently flourishing in life? For many of us, particularly in the current economic climate, the answer to that question is likely a big “yeah, nah”.
Generally speaking, given we spend the majority of our time each week at work, the environments and teams in which we work have a large part to play in our sense of flourishing, or not. This month we take a look at steps we can all take to encourage the teams we operate in to flourish.

81,396 hours. That is how much of your life you will spend at work, according to Gallup’s 2022 State of the Global Workplace report. And that prediction is conservative, with other reports suggesting you will spend up to 115,000 hours working across your lifetime. Whatever the actual number is, we can all probably agree that it is a lot of time. In fact, besides sleeping it is the single largest consumer of our time. However, interestingly, most people don’t like going to work or see it as their ‘calling’.

However, there is some good news in that there are positive steps we can take to create an environment where everyone can thrive at work – whether we lead the teams we are a part of or not. Regardless of our job title, we can all lead by example in setting clear expectations with those around us, providing regular feedback and recognition and encouraging open communication and growth. As such, this month we’ll be exploring these strategies and how they can assist us in creating a working environment that encourages team-wide productivity, creativity, and engagement:

• Set clear expectations and goals for yourself and your team: this creates certainty by providing a clear sense of purpose, direction and what is expected. Hint: be specific and measurable in your goals, so you and your team know what you/they are working towards and how your/their progress will be evaluated.

• Provide regular feedback and recognition: regular feedback and recognition are key to keeping yourself and those around you engaged and motivated. This means providing thoughtful, constructive feedback on work and recognising successes. Celebrating successes reinforces positive actions and contributes to people feeling seen, valued, and appreciated. Hint: celebrate life milestones and achievements, not just those that are work-related, and make sure to let others know how much you value their contributions.

• Encourage a culture of continued learning and growth: encouraging continuous learning and growth is essential in allowing for the exploration of new ideas and interests and in taking on new challenges. Hint: while being mindful of your capacity, take up/promote opportunities for training, mentorship, and building relationships – and encourage others to do the same.

• Promote a positive work environment: promoting a positive work environment means encouraging open communication, collaboration, support, and positivity while avoiding gossip. Approaching others with empathy and respecting their boundaries and perspectives also goes a long way. Hint: one thing you can do to help your brain find the positives is to ask yourself “what are three things that went well for me today?”. Research says that by answering this question each day for a month you will begin to rewire your brain to seek out positive things throughout the day instead of negative things.

• Recognise signs of burnout: burnout is a real and significant risk for any team, and it’s essential to recognise the signs in yourself and others before it’s too late. Watch for signs of exhaustion, withdrawal, inability to focus, cynicism, irritability, and reduced productivity. Hint: offer support and resources to help those you suspect might be heading towards burnout manage their workload. Encouraging the taking of annual leave each year (even if it’s just for a staycation) will also help.

So, while we spend a significant amount of our life at work, and while many of us may not feel as though we are following our ‘calling’, we can all take positive steps towards creating an environment that we enjoy being a part of and contributes positively to our sense of wellbeing. Regardless of where we sit on the corporate ladder, we each have a role in promoting positivity and teamwork, and ultimately, our contributions help to create more collaborative and successful workplaces that everyone can enjoy.