It would be great if employees feel relaxed at work. It doesn’t mean that they’re no longer doing the job assigned to them. You want everyone to work hard but also have fun. Understanding why some employees are so uptight at work would help determine how to change the culture.
The environment is terrible
The work environment should be fun and relaxing. It depends on your qualities as a leader. If you look fun and relax, your employees will do the same. However, if you worry all the time and show to all that they’re not doing well, they will be more uptight. Try to change the environment and make it more relaxed. Let your employees know that they can still do an excellent job even without being too serious.
There’s a culture of blame
Another reason why there are many uptight employees at work is that you have a culture of blame. If there are mistakes, you immediately find someone to blame. Instead of determining who got it wrong, the attention should be on the steps to make things right. Try to create a more helpful and supportive environment so that your employees won’t worry about committing mistakes.
You don’t have flexible policies
There’s nothing wrong in setting guidelines for employees to follow. They have to arrive at a specific time during the day and also end at the same time. You also have rules regarding absences and appropriate clothing at work. However, if there are valid reasons for being late or absent, you have to be considerate. If you keep punishing people who didn’t intend to commit mistakes or violate something, it will create a bad working environment.
The leader is biased
Try your best to be a fair leader. Otherwise, you’re creating an unhealthy environment. Everyone will work hard to be on top and be your favourite. The problem is that the employees might no longer treat each other with love and respect. Their goal is to impress you even if it hurts others. This isn’t the right culture to promote in any workplace.
There are no fun activities
You want your employees to be fine, but you don’t have any activity that allows them to have fun. Try to organize something exciting that everyone can attend. A funfair hire can be one of them. During this day, your employees won’t have to do anything apart from have fun. Their family members can even take part in the festivities. Even if it’s only for a day, it means a lot to the employees. It also gives them a break from work. When they get back the following week, they will feel more energized. You may also host parties and other celebrations where employees can enjoy themselves.
Hopefully, these changes will create a better environment for your employees. You may also ask them for suggestions on transforming the workplace and making it more comfortable for everyone.