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Positive Reinforcement to Improve Workplace Culture

November 10, 2020

One of the best ways to improve the team culture at your workplace is through positive reinforcement. It’s a powerful leadership tool because it promotes a rewarding work environment where employees achieve their goals and flourish in their positions on the construction site. But you still have to know how, when, and where to use positive reinforcements if you want to see results. Roebuck Staffing, your construction staffing Greenville NC agency took the initiative by creating the following positive reinforcement guide to help you understand exactly what it is and why it matters so much to enhance team culture.

The Basics

Based on the operant learning theory researched by American psychologist B.F. Skinner, employers, parents, teachers, anyone who is of the hierarchy should reward the behaviors we want to continue to see. There are different types of reinforcement such as positive, natural, and social.

Positive reinforcement in the workplace is where an employee receives a positive gift for completing something correctly such as a pay raise for completing a task early and continuously working hard.

Natural reinforcement comes from the employee themselves, by feeling accomplished or appreciated after completing a task properly without any form of recognition from a leader.

Social reinforcement usually occurs in group settings when an individual’s positive behavior and actions are recognized by the construction staffing Greenville NC group; such as laughing at a joke, or multiple people praising an idea. These reinforcements don’t have to come from leaders either, but definitely can!

Examples of positive reinforcement

One of the biggest mistakes that managers in the construction field make is that they assume their employees know when they have done a good job, and rely on natural reinforcement. Praising the efforts of your employees is as easy as:

  • Providing positive feedback on quality work such as “you did a great job”, “this looks fantastic”, “I couldn’t have done this better myself” are all examples of positive feedback on a job well done.
  • Supporting self-efficiency when an employee doesn’t need to be micromanaged. Supply your workers with many opportunities for advancement, and the ones that take it upon themselves to complete the task, reward them.
  • Monetary awards aren’t always the best, but they sure can work! In the case of an employee completing one job before the due date, buy them lunch or give them an extra break. If that employee continuously finishes a job prior to when it’s due, and their work is of quality and up to standards, they deserve a pay raise. Roebuck Staffing understands that money doesn’t grow on trees, but if you have a worthy employee who continuously exceeds your expectations, you will want to keep them around and can easily do so by paying them a little extra.
  • Be a leader for the people. Surveying your workers to understand what motivates them and what they realistically want to see changed in the work environment will give you meaningful insight into how you can positively reinforce your employees, and make them want to work harder.

While using positive reinforcement, remember to try and avoid favoritism. If one team member seems to be getting constant attention, the others will feel discouraged and their productivity and attitudes will suffer. Try to focus on rewarding your team as equally as possible. If one employee seems to be outshining the others, try to think of ways to encourage the rest of the team. Also, try not to over-do the positives. While people love to be appreciated, if you walk around saying “Great job!” all day long, it will lose meaning quickly.

The construction industry already experiences a difficult time with return rates and construction staffing Greenville NC. Implementing positive reinforcement in a group setting will give your staff something to work towards and strive to achieve will not only keep your employees happy but dedicated to their jobs and the performance of their work! If you are experiencing a difficult time with your construction staffing Greenville NC, contact Roebuck Staffing today.

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At Roebuck Staffing, we are committed to fulfilling client staffing needs, while demonstrating care in finding gainful positions for our employees in a variety of fields, making us one of the top staffing agencies in Greenville NC. We pride ourselves in our friendly nature and ability to work as a team to make sure the staffing process runs smoothly for both the client and the employees. Contact us today to learn about how we can help you and your business with payroll services through Roebuck Staffing, the best temp agencies in Greenville NC!