Creating Your Environment for a Different Kind of "Green"

In the last 35 years, both awareness and concern for our natural

environment have become incorporated into our consciousness.

Natural fibers, recycling, biodegradable goods, concern for natural

habitats, the disappearing ozone layer, and second-hand smoke are all

concepts that have filtered into our personal and business behaviors.

The result of this awareness is a pretty good understanding of the

interdependence we have with our natural environments and reasons to

respect them. I wonder do we have a similar appreciation for the

contribution of our working environments to our business success? Do

we understand the relationship between the environment in which we

work and our ability to be creative and productive while working? Do

we understand the many ways in which we can create an environment

that fosters important business qualities loyalty, enthusiasm, desire to

contribute, creativity and productivity - both for ourselves and, if we have

them, our employees?

Im sure we all remember the popular debate about nature vs. nurture

the impact of genetic heritage vs. the environment in shaping who we

are, our values, behaviors and attitudes. Regardless of which feature

wins in the end, environment has a huge impact on personal attributes.

We rarely think about this, Im sure, yet we all inhabit a variety of

environments affecting our business life. Some are obvious we

know that if were cold, in the dark and hungry, work is not likely to be at

the top of our priorities until those environments are corrected. Some

are not so obvious yet have considerable impact, just the same. And, if

not consciously designed and nurtured, our working environments can

have a major impact on business success, affecting a business ability to

attract and keep desirable employees, attendance, creativity,

productivity, general work habits, team effectiveness, use of time,

valuable communications; essentially all those qualities a business

depends on to get the job done.

We can think about this another way. When developing products, dont

we bend over backwards to give them all the support we can to ensure

theyll succeed and thrive? We find funds to develop and promote them,

we find champions wholl support their development, we find partners,

test markets, affiliates and more. Just as you would provide a new

product or service, every working person deserves all the support

available to ensure success for themselves and for the contribution

they make to your business. Part of this support comes from the

environments in which we all work.

Consider these and how they affect your business:

1. Relationships Our colleagues, managers, employees, and

associates. The people with whom we have regular contact create an

environment of attitude, either supporting or defeating our efforts to

complete tasks. Are you likely to try something new, submit a proposal,

follow through on a pet project, volunteer your ideas if those around you

are negative, denigrating, rude and unappreciative? Do you think

similar attitudes affect the degree of interest your employees have in

doing excellent work? In wanting to do more than the minimum

required? You bet they do.

On the other hand, an environment of support, regular feedback,

appreciation, ongoing communication, and encouragement for

contribution can be created with little cost and huge payback for your

business.

2. Networks Our customers, partners, web relations, the 6-degree

circle of associates we all possess. What we know, who we know and

how well we share our knowledge, contacts and tips create an

environment of value. Possessing a mentality of abundance (a

willingness to share, knowing that by giving you get in return, believing

that others success can be your success) creates a reputation for you of

great value. A mentality of scarcity (believing that theres not enough to

go around, that shortage creates value, that fear is a great motivator) is

far less likely to reap you the true rewards of networking: being let into

the enormous webs of valuable connections represented by all those

business cards exchanged at monthly business meetings, luncheons

and seminars.

3. Physical The things with which we surround ourselves. Yes, as I

pointed out above we dont work well in the cold or dark and who can

concentrate over a grumbling tummy? Many of us use art, plants or

favorite toys to liven up a work space. Just ask yourself this question:

where are you when youre doing your best work? If its your working

space youre lucky. Wherever it is, whats in that space thats so

supportive of your business activity? Colors you enjoy? Music that

pleases you? Photos that evoke your personal life, hobbies or

passions? Comfortable furniture? Access to others? Solitude?

If you know the things you have in your working space support your

business activity, have you offered the same opportunity to your

employees? If you do your best work when out of the office, how can

you bring to your office those touches that embrace your work habits?

4. Your self Health, personal gifts, values, energy, the attitude with

which we face the world. We know that when we dont feel well,

physically, we simply are less likely to produce our best work. Were

easily defeated by a cold, summer or otherwise. The same can happen

if were doing work that doesnt take advantage of our personal skill set.

I love to write and interact with people in business conversation; if I had

a job that didnt allow me to do either Id express far less passion for the

work than if I could express myself through those activities I most enjoy.

Or think how difficult it can be to produce quality work if were in an

environment that contradicts our values. If you (or your employees)

have to check your sense of integrity at the door each morning, youre

coming to work with an important component missing.

Take a look at your employees; is it possible theyre simply not engaged

in the best tasks they could be doing for you? Do you know what their

true strengths are and are those gifts engaged in service to your

business? Do you know specifically why they your employees work for

you and whether you can enhance that reward for them with the right

environment?

Bottom line: Does your place of business provide an environment in

which employees are supported to do their best work for you? Are they

encouraged to learn, read, maintain professional affiliations that will

increase their effectiveness for your business?

Creating an environment that supports your business may be trickier

than just providing the necessary physical tools and working space but it

doesnt have to be costly. It calls for taking a look at the messages your

employees get from all the environments in which they operate on your

behalf and ensuring those messages say your work is valued and vital

to the health of this business; how can we support you toward that

goal?

When is the ideal time to create environments that will support all the

work you do to create a business that thrives? NOW. Because

businesses that thrive create their own kind of green and you can

take that to the bank.

Andrea Feinberg, M.B.A., G.C.U., Certified S.B.L. Coach, is president of

Coaching Insight.

Clients identify & maximize the potential in their underused assets such

as processes, reputation, goals, skills, relationships, priorities and

values. The results include enhanced marketing outcomes, productive

and engaged employees, effective time management, goal setting and,

occasionally, time off.

Andrea is a Founding Member of International Association of Coaches

and

Coachville, the worlds largest association of professional coaches and

the small business expert, LongIsland.com. She edited and co-

authored the 2004 award-winning The Essential Coaching Book:

Secrets to a Successful Life and has been profiled in The New York

Times, Newsday, Long Island Business News, The Westbury Times.

She has been published in Business to Business, Huntington Chamber

Networks, Creations Magazine, Celebrating You e-newsletter, The

Hauppauge Reporter and is a frequent speaker in the small business

community.

Find her at 516.642.7434 or http://www.coachinginsight.com

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