1. Accept the right position: Start creating a positive work environment by finding a position that suits you. Before you accept a position, you should know what your key skills are, what kind of work you want to do, what kind of role you would like, where you see yourself in five years, and what type of environment you thrive in. Knowing the answers to these questions will help you to distinguish the opportunities that meet those criteria, giving you a head start.
2. Be positive: Have an attitude of positivity and approachability. Demonstrate to coworkers that you are available and willing to help them. Walk around with a smile, and make eye contact with those you pass in the hallways. Be friendly, pleasant and nice. Talk with kindness, encouragement, courtesy and respect. Ask questions before making assumptions. Be fun to work with, and listen to others with interest. Most of all: Don’t complain, whine or gossip. Avoid and discourage negativity to keep morale up.
3. Take responsibility: Take responsibility for the direction of your career. Ultimately, you are responsible for creating an environment in which you can learn and grow. The longer you stay on a “dead-end” career path, the harder it will be to stay positive. If you are unhappy with the current direction of your career, communicate that to your manager if you wish to stay with the company; otherwise, look for a job that you feel is a better match.
4. Communicate with your manager: Meet with your manager regularly to ensure you are on track for meeting expectations and performance goals. Don’t always wait for your manager to reach out to you. Informing your manager about the status of the activities you are performing shows that you are credible, dependable, interested in the business and committed. You might even consider sending a weekly status report indicating what you are working on, what you have completed, and what you have pending. Accept constructive criticism and work to do better in areas that could use improvement.
5. Get Involved: Interact with your coworkers socially. Join a company team or group. Bring a few games in that you can play over your lunch break. Celebrate birthdays and other special events. Cultivate working friendships. Organize a competitive sporting event. Have a departmental potluck lunch. There are so many things that you can do to connect with others while at work. This is helpful when working as a team on a project.
