Psychology
for Business
eNewsletter
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We
are dedicated to bringing out
the best in you and your employees
Vol.2, No.17
August 24, 2001
VITAMIN C’S OF AN EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY
WORKPLACE
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By Dr. John Weaver, Business Psychologist and
Independent Consultant
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Imagine that your organization exists in an economic environment that is uncertain. Unemployment reached
record lows in the past year, but the unemployment rate is now climbing as the economy slows and large employers
are using layoffs to control costs. There has been an increase in applicants for positions in your company and
there is more choice although it is hardly unlimited.
You are attempting to remain a viable entity in this changing sea of economic uncertainty. The last thing you want is to lose those
employees who are the best and the brightest.
Is there a way?
In any economy, the challenge of remaining viable is the challenge of attracting and retaining PRODUCTIVE employees.
But in any economy, the most productive employees have the most opportunity in the job market.
Why do they change jobs?
Because they can.
Average and below average workers can only look for another job when the economic outlook is stable. The best and the
brightest are always in demand. If you are serious about retaining your best employees, you need to create the conditions in your
workplace that will make them want to stay.
Here is the bad news:
Most retention programs did not work! In the year 2000, (when the unemployment rate was low and no one was looking for jobs)
turnover was higher in 48% of companies than the rate in 1999, there was no change in turnover from 1999 in 38% of companies,
and only 14% of companies had lower turnover rates. This was
despite a 33% increase in the number of companies instituting retention programs.
But what if there was something you can do that would greatly increase the retention rates of employees who are your top and
most innovative producers? What if you could increase your retention rates by 50%, AND, increase your productivity
by the 38%, AND increase customer satisfaction scores by 44%? Would you be interested?
The secret formula is to inject the Vitamin C’s of Emotional Health into your workplace.
At a recent conference, I asked the audience to share the qualities of the best workplace environment they had experienced. It was
not surprising to me that every quality they named was an aspect of the Vitamin C’s . There are four essential Vitamin C’s: 1.)
Commitment, 2.) Challenge, 3.) Control, and 4.) Caring.
COMMITMENT
We have a need to belong to something larger than ourselves. The poet and business consultant, David Whyte says, “Anything
or anyone who does not bring you alive is too small.” Great leaders have understood that people will make enormous
sacrifices for a cause in which they believe. By contrast, working at a task that an individual considers meaningless or insignificant
can be demoralizing and saps energy.
Top performers and innovative thinkers live in a world that is full of meaning. They use their commitment to meaningful work to
fuel their motivation. Motivation arises from deep within their souls. This is scary for some managers because it is not subject
to external control and cannot be commanded. In an emotionally healthy workplace, organizations must nurture the conditions for
meaningful work.
Tip: Stand for something important and encourage others in your workplace to do the same.
CHALLENGE
For most of us, an essential ingredient of a valued workplace is the opportunity to stretch and exercise our talents. In an
emotionally healthy workplace, we are able to gain knowledge and skill that help us to improve and grow. This is an inherently
pleasant experience for humans.
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of “Flow”, tracked individual experience and discovered that more people reported feeling dull
and lethargic when they were watching television than when they were fully engaged at work. In challenging and stimulating work
environments, people were happier and more energetic.
The desire to grow and improve is one of the most frequently mentioned reasons for a productive employee to pursue a new
job.
Tip: Reward employees willing to attempt to solve problems, even if they make mistakes along the way.
CONTROL
It is very unpleasant and anxiety provoking to experience our lives as being out of our control. In a classic study (dubbed the
“Executive Monkey” study) by Robert Yerkes of Yale, he demonstrated that monkeys who were able to control electric
shocks (i.e., turn off the shocks via access to a lever) were far less likely to get ulcers than monkeys who received exactly the same
number and intensity of shocks who were not in control. The
ability to have control in our work is critical to well being. Why would anyone commit to a job or accept challenges that resulted
in a loss of control?
The problem for many of us is that we attempt to gain control over our lives in very ineffective ways. It is not possible to
control every aspect of our environment, but in the emotionally healthy workplace there is opportunity to have
control over critical aspects of work.
Tip: Give workers time to plan and organize on the job.
CARING
Social support is an important aspect of a healthy work environment. In the healthiest of workplaces, people enjoy one
another and support each other. The power of the work team, when it is effective, is in drawing on each member’s strengths
while compensating for each other’s weaknesses. This combination creates the conditions for the type of environment
that fosters productive and innovative work.
Loyalty and a willingness to sacrifice are based on personal relationships. People are reluctant to pledge allegiance to an
abstract principle or a faceless organizational entity. We need personal relationships.
Tip: Get to know employees as whole persons, not only for the roles they assume in the company.
About the Author
John Weaver, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist with 22 years’ professional
experience working with organizations, groups, and individuals. He has
experience leading groups and creating teamwork in organizations. His areas of
expertise include assisting teams and individuals to improve performance under
stress, assessing employees and potential employees to ensure the right person
for the right job, working toward conflict resolution, and training in stress
management and "stress hardiness" skills for individuals and groups.
He is an experienced public speaker.
Based in Waukesha, WI, Dr. John Weaver is available for consultation or coaching
by phone, e-mail or in person. He may be reached at (262) 544-9918 (office) or
(414) 491-8719 (cell), by e-mail at jweaver@psychologyforbusiness.com or:
John
Weaver, Psy.D.
Psychology for Business
2717 North Grandview Boulevard, Suite 303
Waukesha, Wisconsin, 53188
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