Home topics workplace hr-and-staff Hot Tips Managing Staff Hot Tips Seven simple steps to a harmonious workplace Michael Cosgrove May 30, 2012 There’s no quick-fix to creating a harmonious workplace , no one size fits all approach, but these seven steps could get you pretty darn close. There are many varied opinions, a great deal of advice and an abundance of willing helpers out there who proclaim to have the answer to creating a happy work environment. While some are good, others are average, and some are so far off the mark you shouldn’t even consider them, the real key to a happy workplace is realising there’s no one-stop template, no guaranteed to fix everything program. Every workplace is different and every employee is different. Looking at the basics however, I think there are seven easy steps every small business can follow which should form part of a much larger staff engagement and performance program. Step 1. Talk to your staff – Set up tool box talks, regular staff meetings and discussions. Make sure they’re open forums where staff feel safe to put forward their ideas and concerns. This is primary to stave off disputes and conflicts which would require the intervention of an outside third party, like a union. Step 2. Under promise and over deliver – Eliminate catch phrases like “I’ll look into it” and “moving forward” from your vocabulary. Make sure that when you give your staff a time frame to rectify an issue, you stick to