Creating a work environment where everyone can thrive

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For those people following my articles, you will know that I have been exploring the core drivers that support people to do well at work. I think this has never been more relevant as so many of us are exploring our relationship with work. The framework I developed MAGIC explores these drivers; Meaning, Authenticity. Ground rules, “I” and Curiosity. We have considered Meaning and Authenticity and now we have moved on to Ground Rules.  

A workplace that understands Meaning, and allows its people to express themselves with Authenticity, is well on the way to becoming an environment where everybody can thrive. A place where work, works. The next step of the puzzle is to establish a set of Ground Rules so people don't have to "sweat the small stuff " and have a sense of certainty and stability in a world with many unknowns.

Ground Rules are particularly valuable when it comes to communication and conflict. So often we assume that we think the same about how to navigate these important parts of our working lives. But when we stop to consider how many different jobs and indeed backgrounds that we come from we can recognise that we all will have our unique lens and this will then determine what we think is the right way to do things.

I have noticed as a mediator often when people come together following conflict, they have very different ideas about what words mean that we use frequently at work; for example respect or professional. We unpick these words in the mediations and explore how the people I am working with interpret them. These differences can be what has contributed to the breakdown in communication that has led people to mediation. Establishing what these mean and how you understand them as a group can make up part of your company's Ground Rules and prevent misunderstandings from happening at all.

A good way to start establishing the Ground Rules is to bring your team together and choose three to four topics that you feel are most relevant to your team.  Canvas everyone's opinion on each topic for example "respect at work" and write everybody's interpretation on a whiteboard.  I bet you will be surprised at all the different perspectives. The next step is to drill down to a shared understanding.  Keep culling until you get to three points that people can keep at the front of their minds when considering their actions at work.  This is a start to establishing your professional Ground Rules that will hopefully keep you steady during these uncertain times.

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