Good karma in the workplace can offer benefits to both employees and the business itself. And it is all based on a few simple fundamentals. Believer of karma or not. It never hurts to dish out a bit of positive energy anyway.
Karma is not just something made famous by colourful song star, Boy George, back in the 1980’s. Nor, is it an invisible force that whirls around simply to square up on the “bad people” who try to ruin our lives.
In fact, karma plays an important part of many beliefs around the globe. For example, in religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism, they deem karma as a connection of their present, their past and to their future. According to the Oxford Dictionary, for these beliefs, the official meaning of karma is,
‘the sum of a person’s actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.’
In other terms, karma is often referred to as the good luck or bad luck that has resulted from one’s own actions, much like the saying, “what goes around comes around”. If you promote and give off positive energy, it will come back to you in a circular motion. On the flipside, negativity and evil deeds will promote bad karma.
And when it comes to karma in the workplace, I believe the presence of good karma can be the very secret to a healthy and thriving business.
Why karma plays an important role in the workplace
Boy George was completely on point. Karma is a chameleon. You cannot always see it, but it is an energy that transforms from good to bad and to neutral. This energy is derived typically from our actions – what we say and what we do. It is that simple.
But, in a fast-paced environment, such as a place of work, considering someone else’s thoughts and feelings before we ‘act’, can easily get overlooked for prioritising results and getting the job done. And why should this matter if we are constantly producing cracking results? It matters. When it comes to karma in the workplace, even the smallest of things matter. From our body language to our tone of voice (both written and verbal), to the way we say hello to our colleagues in the morning. The way we act can have a huge impact on work relationships and getting the job done.
With the right team in place, the benefits of creating and maintaining positive energy and good karma can manifest into higher productivity, job satisfaction and more healthy, cohesive teams. This in turn can save time and money by way of employee retention and enhancing business results.
How to introduce a concept of good karma in the workplace
For managers, along with the demands of daily workflow and routines, it is important to instil the concept of good karma into the workplace. This can be achieved as simply as setting some basic fundamentals:
- show gratitude and respect of others
- offer praise for efforts
- be honest
- listen effectively and communicate succinctly
- be patient
- be mindful of others’ workloads
- be sensitive to others’ feelings
- support colleagues and act collaboratively
Ever had a colleague who just can’t kick the bad mood they have been in all week? You walk into their office and their negative energy also gets you down. You walk out feeling flat. Your next dealing with them already starts on a low. That’s poor karma. They created the mood and you ran with that.
On the other hand, you are beaming from your colleague across the hallway who just helped you with a brilliant new sales pitch. Next week, she will need help with a headline story that is right up your ally…
Karma is considered to have a flow-on effect. It will travel the workplace and come back to the sender usually in the same manner that it is dished out. In this respect, it is the sender who is responsible for the type of karma that they receive.
Creating a workplace that embraces a culture of good karma can:
- enhance the self-esteem of employees
- promote a sense of value and comradery
- prove cost-effective for business
- enhance productivity
- promote healthy teamwork
A workplace that encourages good karma will typically possess happy employees, who in turn, will be more productive and produce great results.
Basic, selfless, genuine acts of kindness and appreciation are arguably the most effective way to motivate and get the best out of employees. Referred to as ‘good workplace karma’ or not, managers who champion this type of culture in the workplace will generally enjoy a team of workers who will perform at their best.
Need a hand with some employee recruitment? Or, perhaps you would like to find a workplace who enjoys a culture of good karma too? Optimum Consulting is on-hand to assist job seekers and recruiters alike. Just contact our friendly team here.