How to Model Positive Behavior and Professionalism in the Workplace

As a company manager or CEO, what you say and do matters. Your behavior not only reflects on you, but it invariably paints a picture to others about the company. It’s a kind of “guilty by association” phenomenon. What you say and do goes a long way in how the organization will be viewed by employees and outside stakeholders. It’s important to remember that you can have a direct impact on the company’s success and retention statistics.

Positive Messaging/Modeling

Smallbusiness.chron.com describes positive modeling as a “system of mentoring and discipline that focuses on positive workplace behavior and performance.” Many employees appreciate mentorship and will do a better job with positive reinforcement and support. When good employees feel good about their jobs, they tend to stay the course and work hard for the company. Managers who use positive messaging vs. negativity contribute to an atmosphere of growth and success. Even when expressing criticism, managers can remain positive and turn a potentially negative situation into a win or a teaching moment for the employee and the company.

Practice What You Preach

Every business, no matter how big or how small, must follow policies and procedures, or there will be chaos. One of the most effective ways managers can reinforce positive and professional behavior in the workplace is to know the rules and follow them. Have the company policy book within arm’s reach if you need to refer to it. Be consistent in what you say. Refrain from water cooler chatter that disparages procedures. Be the leader other employees come to when they have questions about policies and procedures.

Not only will you gain the respect of your employees, but you’ll also help them learn the procedures and ensure safety compliance. “This reduces liability risks for your organization and limits interruptions in operations,” says powerdms.com. “Your employees can feel safe and comfortable in the workplace, knowing that their managers and co-workers are looking out for their best interest. They can rest assured that they’ll be taken care of if something does happen.”

Work-Life Balance

Striking a balance between the demands of work and the obligations of personal commitments can be difficult, especially in the age of smartphones that continually notify us of new emails, messages on Facebook, and a change in our bank balance. Learning strategies to protect your body and soul from burnout is worthwhile for you and your whole team.

While you may think replying to emails at 2 in the morning is admirable and shows commitment to the company, what you’re actually doing is reinforcing a negative work-life balance. There may be times when you’re working late, and a healthy way to do this is to schedule your email to go out the next morning at the start of the workday. You wouldn’t want your employees to think they also need to work into the night (unless that’s their schedule/shift). It’s important to model a healthy work-life balance because it will help you and the company thrive. Studies show that the benefits of knowing when to stop working each day include increased productivity, decreased burnout, higher morale, and improved public reputation. So do yourself and your employees a favor, work when you should, and know when to stop.

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