Creating a Good News Only Zone

For a brief time, colleagues were walking into my office with fires that needed to be put out—lost business and just all-around negative vibes. They shared some their frustrations and looked to me for the answers.

Problem-solving is somewhat of a gift for me, but I wanted to empower my colleagues to trust their judgment and find solutions on their own. I knew that I had to make a change. I printed out a sign that read Good News Only Zone and hung it up on my office door.

It took a few days, but then I noticed a small turn of events and also a few laughs. My colleagues started to come to me when they booked a large group, had a joke to tell or just wanted to see how my day was going.

At that moment, I knew that I helped create a positive work space—my office—and that I had the opportunity to further foster a comfortable work environment. I was leading them with positive engagement and knew that success in sales and productivity starts with a Good News Only mindset.

Since this change in the office environment, we have seen an increase in empowerment and motivation and an overall increase in revenue.

Leadership within an organization is when management builds alignment and motivation, and assists with staff's growing the capabilities to help advance an organization's mission. In today's culture, we need more face-to-face conversations and less texting and email frustrations. We need more creative strategic planning and fewer knee-jerk reactions. Spend more time on empowering and taking care of our team and, in return, we will see longevity and passion for their work.

Some days are just tough; we will get some bad news. Ask yourself, how are you contributing? Are you arriving to work with a positive or negative attitude? Are you engaging your team?

As a leader in your organization, you must take steps to improve your work environment. Here are a few ideas that have worked for me:

• Focus on your team's strengths.
• Be supportive and offer assistance.
• Provide your team with a sense of purpose.
• Treat each other with kindness and respect.
• Celebrate the wins to improve morale.

Leadership through positive engagement is a true way to lead. The benefits of creating a Good News Only Zone, promotes a healthy work environment and increases productivity. Start small: Make your office or break room the first Good News Only Zone and I promise you will see a difference. Your team will be at their best when they have a safe, positive and productive place to turn.

Are you ready to create a positive work environment? The Good News Only Zone is a great start.

Written by Sandi Smeltzer, Sales Manager, Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. This article was originally published on syta.org.