However, there are easy things you can do to make an impact while you're at work. Rethink Schedules. In a perfect world, employees can power down after work hours and stop checking emails. "Plants would improve your workplace by cleaning the air, reducing the noise and stress levels,"  said Diana Vicheva, a content marketing executive at ExpoBeds who said she's taken actions to be more Earth-friendly at work. Wet your hands. Decisive and task-oriented, they focus intently on the job at hand. Let’s face it, whether we mainly hire freelance help or manage a large office staff, we all have to work with people. To be friendly and kind, start by smiling more at people to put them at ease. No matter what type of job you have, there’s always something you can do that makes your work environment a little more earth-friendly. When you are friendly to others , you offer them these same benefits. Green Your Commute Research states that every working American spends approximately 47 … Go to where the people are You might even arrive at the office a little earlier than expected. When you own your own company, your co-workers and employees look to you to set the... 2. Look at each and every person as a vital member of the team. A high morale will increase each employees esteem and satisfaction as … You might even arrive at the office a little earlier than expected. "Imagine how much paper and plastic waste is generated every day by lunch deliveries to offices in the form of bags, boxes, single-use forks and spoons, napkins, condiment packets, menus and so on. But they are also more assertive. Work More Than the Minimum Hours. When you show a genuine interest in others, you foster a happier workplace. Develop meaningful bonds with your fellow workers. Get to know each other outside of the office. Seriously, adding a plant on your desk not only makes it more appealing to work at, but it also absorbs pollutants and emits oxygen (and makes you more productive). Being energy and resource efficient and conscious of improving the health and well-being of the work environment will also reduce the costs of running a business. Effective communication begins with active listening. Boilers are an example of a heating source that can be more eco friendly.As boilers can be fuelled generally by four different fuels, homeowners can decide what would be best for their house.The possibilities range from gas boilers, oil, electric boilers, and biomass boilers. If what you’re doing isn’t working, invite your employees to tell you why. A sustainability team can both raise awareness and accomplish more, said... 2. Use these tips to help you negotiate for a flexible work schedule. After all, when you fold away the friendly smiles and stop biting back your thoughts, a monster will surely emerge. Bike, carpool or ride the bus—or get there any way that isn't you in your car alone. More than anything else, the best way to create a friendly work environment is by asking and listening. If your work is difficult and you can’t get away from that, and finding a positive attitude about the work itself is a challenge, be kind to the people … Lighting. When you greet people, keep a second of extra eye contact after you’ve shaken hands. In an age where people are driven both by both their career and personal well being, striking a healthy balance in relationships at work has never been more essential. From business to marketing, sales, finance, design, technology, and more, we have the freelancers you need to tackle your most important work and projects, on-demand. Talking can be a bit harder to get used to, but try to get in the habit of... 3. By the end, you’ll be ready to make your business a more inclusive, welcoming place for all employees. Practice a casual smile. Keep scrap paper to use for notes. Eye contacts make friendly situations more friendly and hostile situations more hostile. They can tell when everything is clicking, and they can also tell when things are amiss. In the break room. "Instead of ordering takeout, bring your own lunch in a reusable container or go to a nearby restaurant," Vicheva said. If you struggle to meet new people or join in the conversation at social gatherings, it might be that your body language is sending the message for others to stay away. Flamboyant, energetic, and impulsive, they are the most outgoing of the People Styles. Show your empathy and concern for their well being as people, as well as co-workers. A nonprofit journalism website produced by: We spend so much of our time at work, but even if you try to maintain eco-friendly habits in your personal life, you might find it tricky to remember when you're on the job. But that may be easier said than done. Benefits of an LGBT-Friendly Workplace. "This could refer to envelopes, sticky notes, any old documents. Here are 10 ways businesses can help create a more family-friendly workplace: 1. Post regular reports around the office or in your newsletter. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn more about what makes them tick and you’ll develop even stronger bonds when you discover you have shared interests. Better yet, unplug your stuff when you leave work, or use a smart power strip that does the work for you. After all, you can't control everything about your workplace. ", "If you see the benefits of your eco-friendly habits, then don't hesitate to share them with your colleagues," Ivanova said. Remind yourself to relax the muscles in your face... 2. ", "After you wash, shake your hands several times over the sink to get rid of excess water," Trakhtenberg said. Most people feel good when they’re helping others. They have no option. Easy Ways You Can Be More Eco-Friendly at Work On the way to work. If the powers that be have decided to keep the air conditioning on full-tilt year-round, or use bleached paper towels in the bathroom, you probably can't singlehandedly change it. While it is great if you take the initiative and greet the person first, stopping the conversation dead in its tracks after the initial “Good Morning” can be quite harsh. Offer respect, kindness, openness, caring and trust and you will be sure to reap the returns many times over. A high morale promotes collaboration and cohesiveness as a positive and friendly working environment, and increased morale, is likely to promote a willingness to work together towards goals. The quality of lighting in your office can affect your mood and your well-being. The ability to do this will depend on your commitments outside of work. Respect that they have different opinions and ways of looking at the world. Start a sustainability team for your office. Treat everyone with respect.. Everyone you work with deserves respect in the workplace, even when you differ on... 3. If you look at it, making life more environmentally-friendly simply makes sense. Anyone can join the Green Schools Alliance, but you don't need to be a part of a formal program to implement environment-friendly practices in your school. 100 Easy Ways to be more Eco-Friendly. Sometimes the best way to get to know a co-worker is by taking initiative. Copyright © 2021 Entrepreneur Media, Inc. All rights reserved. However, if you choose to make your business more environmentally friendly, your efforts must be genuine as your customers will notice if your claims are false. All this work by schools around the world has helped the Green Cup Challenge to yield a savings of more than 9.7 million kW hours. Nervousness can make us tense up without noticing. ", "Turn the water on. Then, turn it back on again to rinse," Trakhtenberg said. Plus you get rewarded yourself. Making friends in the office,… Take time to learn about their families and their goals. At your desk. In fact, one factor that leading scientists and psychologists often agree on is that social relationships represent the most accurate predictor of overall happiness. You will build trust and form a bond when you share common goals and activities for the good of others. Others will have a compressed workweek that enables them to work four, 10-hour days instead of five, 8-hour days. But they are less responsive. Switch Heating Source. 11. Related: The Hidden Benefits of Happy Co-Workers (Infographic). Having friendly conversations might also help reduce your stress, so when you’re one-on-one with the head honcho, you’re more relaxed and less likely to jump the gun or act irrationally. Participate in meatless-Mondays; Participate in wheatless-Wednesdays Commit to eating plant-based two days a week or more if you can! Making the environment more pleasant for yourself, energy efficient, and eco-friendly will increase your enjoyment of the workplace and lessen its impact on the environment as a whole. Create monthly green challenges. Mention that you and three other people usually play football on Thursday evenings if they want to join in. First, we’ll look at the benefits of an LGBT-friendly workplace, and then we’ll discuss ten ways of creating one. Ask Someone How Their Night Was. How to be friendly at work (but not too friendly) Maintaining a friendly demeanour with co-workers can keep the workplace a pleasant atmosphere. Why Democrats want to pass a package including $1,400 stimulus checks and $400 unemployment benefits by March 14 A greener workplace can mean a lighter ecological footprint, a healthier and more productive place to work and good news for the bottom line. How to Be More Approachable . Smile slightly with the corners of your mouth if you usually frown. Are you looking for easy ways to reduce your environmental impact? Another way to be more eco friendly is to opt for a renewable method for heating your home. My top advice would be to start treating your workplace like your home. Turn off the faucet while you're soaping up. If you don't have a hand dryer, go easy on the paper towels. And supply your own coffee mug, too. 7 Ways to Create a Friendly Environment at Work 1. Use open body posture.. WikiHow suggests that an open body posture is one of the … Don't automatically throw everything away. Standing up for… MENU. It will feel weird... 3. "Then, when you pump the paper towel dispenser, do only two pumps and then use the paper that comes out to dry your hands. We’re not saying to add another three hours to your working day. There are all sorts of ways to provide rewards, including praise, recognition, money, prizes, gift cards, celebratory meals, trophies and certificates of achievement. The truth is, many of us are so connected to our jobs and our devices. Simply being more aware and conscious of your actions in the workplace is a great place to start. Smile with your eyes. During conversations, maintain good eye contact to show that you value the other person’s time and what they have to say. And just like that, you'll be the friendliest person on the block. Guarantee that women are not discriminated against based on pregnancy, motherhood or family responsibilities – for example, in relation to employment conditions, wages or career opportunities. It is helpful to work in a … You can apply the concepts of sustainability to every aspect of your life and everywhere that you go, and this includes your workplace too. Making friends in the office, however, has its perks and downfalls. 5 Quick and Easy Ways to Be Nicer at Work, Starting Now 1. Being around them for eight or more hours, five days a week, forces you to at least break that first barrier in getting to know your workmates. Going green: 10 ways to make your office more eco-friendly and efficient 1. An attitude of gratitude goes a long way. She paused for a second and said, “Yes, but only if they’re real friends—people I can trust.” Carla isn’t alone in her thinking. Georgette on April 21, 2010 at 4:53 pm I’m not sure if this would work in a home, but at my office they installed motion sensors on the lights in all of the shared spaces (i.e. How To Be More Friendly And Social - Chris MacLeod, MSW. To be friendly and make more friends, YOU need to make it happen. Maintaining a friendly demeanor with co-workers can keep the workplace a pleasant atmosphere. One way to improve your professionalism is to work longer than those hours. Encourage your co-workers to share their thoughts and be open to hearing them all the way through without interrupting or interjecting your own opinions. However, individuals can make a difference too, provided they know what to do — here are five ways to make your campus more eco-friendly… Recognize everyone for their hard work and dedication. Even if you don’t speak, try to be considerate of others by doing things like holding open the door or letting someone go ahead of you in line. When you own your own company, your co-workers and employees look to you to set the tone for the business and the office environment. Relax your face. Going green isn’t something that only has to be done in your personal time. Finally, be mindful of what your actions do to the environment. The more confident you get and the better you listen, you will find you are worrying less about what you will say, and you will listen harder to what they are saying. Our Franchise Advisors are here to help you throughout the entire process of building your franchise organization! Even an extra half hour will help you be perceived as more professional and passionate about your work. Know when less is more. It's time to "go green" at work, and … Even if you don’t speak, try to be considerate of others by doing things like holding open the door or letting someone go ahead of you in line. One-sided printoffs can be fashioned into eco-friendly notebooks. A greener workplace can mean a lighter ecological footprint, a healthier and more productive place to work and good news for the bottom line. A positive attitude is key to an enjoyable, more comfortable workplace. YOU be the one to join a new interest group (running, writing, etc.) When you come across something online that makes you laugh, you never question sending it over to... 2. Your company will run like a well-oiled machine if you learn to create positive relationships with your colleagues and co-workers. Be liberal with positive feedback and show gratitude when employees go above and beyond their normal duties and responsibilities. Be Mindful of Your Own Habits . The University of Warwick, UK, in one of their studies revealed that happy workers are up to 12% more productive than unhappy professionals. Related: It's Time to Fall in Love With Your Business Again, For all commercial enquiries related to Entrepreneur India, please contact sales@entrepreneurindia.com, For all editorial enquiries related to Entrepreneur India, please contact editor@entrepreneurindia.com, For all contributor enquiries related to Entrepreneur India, please contact contributor@entrepreneurindia.com, Author, Business Etiquette Expert and Founder of The Protocol School of Palm Beach. Being energy and resource efficient and conscious of improving the health and well-being of the work environment will also reduce the costs of running a business. This is the time that you should arrive to work by, and leave work after, at the end of the day. How To Stop Being Too Nice At Work. You don't need nearly as much paper as you think you do in order to dry your hands fully. Family-friendly policies, such as paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and childcare, are not a reality for most new parents around the world. Let’s look at the business benefits first. "Friendly" and "welcome mat" don't inherently go together — if you feel like you're getting shafted, you need to speak up. You may hate this one, but the truth is, working longer than required can reflect superbly on you. I'd define "social" as spending a fair amount of time with people and enjoying it. If anything, female managers will go the other way and act too cold." We asked Carla if she wanted more friends at work. If you are mindful about the choices you do have control over, your good habits can carry over from your personal life into your work life. There are so many easy adjustments and small changes that can make a huge difference! 1. 8. Most offices usually have a minimum working time period. Turn on your workplace devices' automatic power saving functions. Poor lighting—whether it's dim lighting or harsh lighting from overhead fluorescent lights—can cause eye strain, stress, and fatigue. For example, do not leave the tap running when you are not using it. Taking the time to start a conversation about someone’s personal life is … 10 Ways to Become More Approachable 1. Aside from being more eco-friendly, I also feel like it isn’t nearly as hard on my clothes and helps them last longer. 30 Remarkable Ways to Go Green at Workplace. They’re friendly and empathetic like amiables but aren’t as low-key about it. You can walk around all stoney-faced and closed off, or you can be the cool, smiling... 2. Be nice to other people and watch them pay it forward. Thankfully, even if your company hasn’t “gone green” as a whole, there are things you can do and habits you can adopt as an employee to make your workplace more eco-friendly. Rapport-building is essential for business development, job interviews, negotiations, and other high-stakes communications. When you do go to lunch with a co-worker or new friend, try to skew the conversation toward positive stories as much as possible. If you're thinking about looking for a new job, make your requests for more challenging work visible. Campus-wide initiatives are a key part of making universities more sustainable. As part of an internal conference at Redgate, I gave an introductory talk on Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) and I’ve decided to share some of my thoughts publicly. "Most places recycle paper, but there are other products that can be recycled that we don't think about. Everyone you work with deserves respect in the workplace, even when you differ on opinions. "Why not even make a presentation to show results and also introduce improvements you can all do around the office to make it more environmental-friendly. The line between a healthy work-life balance gets blurred even further while we’re working from home. Probably more included, comfortable, and at ease; safer; more open and warm-hearted. "However, if you... go into the settings and change the power saving and sleep mode you can reduce your phantom energy consumption further. ... You will not only prolong the device's lifespan, you can also slash electricity consumption in personal computers after hours or regulate dormant conference room devices. Well, I have a crafted a mega-post full of easy swaps that we can make to reduce the impact we have on the planet. ", "Put aside all paper that can still serve a purpose," said Marieta Ivanova, a home improvement expert and blogger for Fantastic Services Brisbane. Making the environment more pleasant for yourself, energy efficient, and eco-friendly will increase your enjoyment of the workplace and lessen its impact on the environment as a whole. Acknowledge People You See. To Boost Your Business Treat Employees as Well as Your Customers, The Hidden Benefits of Happy Co-Workers (Infographic), It's Time to Fall in Love With Your Business Again, 11 Ways Successful People Deal With People They Don't Like, How This Accounting Firm's Office Builds Structure and Invites the Flow of Ideas, This Software Company's Open Office Genuinely Fosters Collaboration, 5 Keys to Establishing Meaningful and Fruitful Connections in the Workplace, These 6 Types of Music Are Known to Dramatically Improve Productivity, Schedule a FREE one-on-one session with a Franchise Advisor, Choose one of our programs that matches your needs, budget, and timeline, Providing us with basic information about your business, Verifying details about your business with one of our specialists, Speaking with an agent who is specifically suited to insure your business. A quick, good-enough definition of "friendly" could be being nice to, and interested in, others. Use open body language Have your arms along your sides instead of crossing them. A positive or negative attitude also spills over into how your customers perceive your business, which translates into their willingness to do business with you. Becoming more sustainable and making your workplace more eco-friendly doesn’t mean you have to go completely off the grid, or sell your car. Bike, carpool or ride the bus—or get there any way that isn't you in your car alone. Exchange ideas and personal opinions. So what can business do? Be open to introducing yourself to new faces you see around the office, and don’t be afraid to strike up small talk. Looking more friendly 1. Conserve water. Drivers are, like expressives, more assertive. Here are 10 ways your company can go green. "Plus, you'll have the fun of seeing your favorite mug at the office, which will brighten your day at the same time. Whenever the other person is smiling. To be friendly and kind, start by smiling more at people to put them at ease. Encourage criticism, and empower your employees to make the workplace better for everyone. "For every minute you leave the faucet on, eight gallons of good, clean water run down the sink. Use reusable plates, bowls and utensils at lunch instead of grabbing plastic ones from the break room. After you acknowledge them, you will become a lot more likeable if you add something as long as it is relevant and on topic. To foster an environment where everyone feels they have a voice, make your approach “yes, that’s a possibility” rather than “no, that would never work.”. Even an extra half hour will help you be perceived as more professional and passionate about your work. End On A High Note. October 31, 2018. Start small and each Tuesday do something to be more social and friendly with your co-workers. How can you be more diversity-friendly and inclusive? This respect will go a long way in developing the trust and teamwork that will take your business to the top. If there's someone that you've found some common ground with, ask them if they want to grab lunch with you. Take on a charity campaign and encourage your co-workers to participate in fundraising events, a charity race or a Habitat for Humanity project. Jill´s last blog post…Fashion Friday: 3rd Edition. "In the digital age we live in this may sound crazy, but many people do still print out documents to share around the office that are totally unnecessary," Bank My Cell CEO Ash Turner said. Here are seven tips that will help develop great relationships at work. Different areas have different requirements and a little research will get you the information on what you can do.". 11 Tips For Being A Bit More Friendly Every Day 1. How then can you improve your body language to appear more approachable? No matter what the standards are, being content with our careers is crucial for maintaining the ‘work-life’ balance. Small things you already do at home – because you are the one paying the bills! So why should you make your workplace more inclusive? For some people, having a friendly environment at work is an essential requisite for deriving pleasure. 2. Below are … Waiting for others only makes you feel powerless and lowers your self-esteem. Women seem to be more aware of what boundaries mean and are able to read emotions better. If you already have a plan in place, adding seasoned professionals to your team could help things run smoother and faster. He suggests that companies implement these four policies to become more family friendly: 1. Consider your desk setup across the five features below to get more work done during the day with less effort. YOU be the one to say hello and introduce yourself. It is always the wrong approach. Turn off the lights when you leave a conference room. Rapport-building is essential for business development, job interviews, negotiations, and other high-stakes communications. Here are the things that you can do to make people want to talk to you more: Keep your legs together instead of crossed Have good posture instead of … Discover a better way to hire freelancers. Having friendly conversations at work opens you up for more communication, so when it is time to face the boss, you’ll already be on a roll. Make eye contact and smile.. You’ve just met a new person. Get involved in your community by screening a documentary, hosting a clean-up, or giving a talk to help others live a more eco-friendly life. … Look for eco-friendly materials: "Look out for more natural fibres - go for cotton over polyester. Make sure you’re covered if an employee gets injured at work by. ", "Do some research on what your company recycles and then recycle as much as you can," Trakhtenberg said. The trick to becoming more approachable at work is to develop good communication skills. 5 ways you can be eco-friendly at university. Go to lunch with your co-workers or plan an off-site event like a bowling night or a day at the ballpark. Re-Think Your Plate: Go heavy on the plants. Simply make eye contact with the people you pass on the street, and toss out a few nods and smiles. Research from WSP UK, a London-based consulting firm specialising in engineering, shows that remote work in the UK may only be more environmentally friendly in … ", "Most devices will control their own battery and CPU speeds automatically," Turner said. Life. Develop a positive attitude.. The upcoming Earth Day reminds us that there are always more ways for enterprises and employees to adopt environmentally-friendly policies. Our digital, remote-friendly talent solutions provide more quality and speed than job boards and a better turnaround than recruiters. Here is a list of some of the ways you can make your business greener: 1. Print as little as possible, and encourage your colleagues to share documents via Google Drive, Dropbox or whatever program you use. Advertising. Women are feeling significantly more stressed at work than men. Still, others will work remotely, telecommuting from home. They can be used for making a quick daily work schedule or just for notes. Everyone likes to feel valued and appreciated for what they do everyday. Parents need time and support to give their children the best start in life. If your day-to-day actions are more environmentally-friendly you not only help the environment, but you can benefit financially, physically and mentally as well. They are telling a... 2. Your manager is busy, too, and while your development as a person and employee may be important to your manager, they cannot read your mind. If becoming like this is one of your goals, here are some general pointers on how to act like a more friendly, social person. Whether you're a … Share a Funny Link. Don't sit back and wait for your manager to give you something new or exciting to do. Being around them for eight or more hours, five days a week, forces you to at least break that first barrier in getting to know your workmates. Look for eco-friendly materials: "Look out for more natural fibres - go for cotton over polyester. And of course our first ever research report on Women@Work in Pakistan also highlighted the benefits in a roadmap on how to create a female friendly workplace. In terms of energy use, offices should use gentle reminders for employees. What triggers our emotions if we’re a woman or a man. All about that! If there's a new person at work, fill them in on the general goings on of the office, and let them know everyone in your department usually grabs lunch together at 12:30. ", "You'll save tons of paper or styrofoam," Trakhtenberg said. "Various stores and other places will take your old ink cartridges, refill them and resell them," said Izolda Trakhtenberg, a former environmental educator for NASA now known as the "Earth Lady. Related: To Boost Your Business Treat Employees as Well as Your Customers. This is one way that can save money and help the environment.