It乌鸦传媒檚 Pink Shirt Day week!

Who doesn乌鸦传媒檛 love pink, c乌鸦传媒檓on乌鸦传媒� it乌鸦传媒檚 PINK! Fresh from the amazingly orchestrated 5th Annual Pink Shirt Day breakfast in support of the Okanagan Boys & Girls Club I, for one, am pumped. The dialogue has changed from something we should stop doing - anti-bullying - to something we should start doing 乌鸦传媒� being kind. Pretty simple, huh? Being kind makes us happy, and random acts of kindness make others happy so why the heck not, get your 乌鸦传媒渒ind乌鸦传媒� on, friends, let乌鸦传媒檚 make this workplace a happier place.

So, in the spirit of turning those frowns upside down, here are some top tips I乌鸦传媒檝e pulled together for making that place that many of us spend a whopping great third of our lives at..

Stop the Micro-Managing!

Whether you乌鸦传媒檙e the business owner, a line manager or part of a team, micromanaging doesn乌鸦传媒檛 work 乌鸦传媒� show me a place where someone wants to have every part of their role scrutinised and I乌鸦传媒檒l show you an unhappy staff member. My leadership style at Evolve Design Build is inclusive, relaxed, collaborative. Don乌鸦传媒檛 get me wrong, we all get sh*t done, and I expect my team to own their roles and be accountable to the bigger picture, but I don乌鸦传媒檛 micro manage and I won乌鸦传媒檛 ever start. It乌鸦传媒檚 not who I am. I think we have a very happy atmosphere in our offices, and I put that down to communication. Lead, mentor, guide, support your peers 乌鸦传媒� and watch them grow. Leave the hierarchy at the door.

Speaking of doors乌鸦传媒�

keep that metaphorical door open乌鸦传媒� every office gets tension once in a while, we乌鸦传媒檙e all individuals with different value systems, beliefs, and let乌鸦传媒檚 face it, chips on our shoulders - open door policies at every level give people the opportunity to discuss anything that乌鸦传媒檚 bothering them. Not a talker? Implement an online ideas portal! Bring some ideas friends! If your company isn乌鸦传媒檛 receptive to this kind of suggestion perhaps it乌鸦传媒檚 not your kind of company乌鸦传媒� just sayin乌鸦传媒�? Key to this, of course, is action 乌鸦传媒� the company needs to be willing to listen and act on people乌鸦传媒檚 concerns.. but don乌鸦传媒檛 underestimate your ability to effect change!

Be the change.

It乌鸦传媒檚 well documented that giving back makes us happier; making a difference to someone else乌鸦传媒檚 life (without expecting anything in return) is one of the most powerful ways to elevate our happiness. So why not bring a Social Responsibility element to your company? And not just at Christmas time! It乌鸦传媒檚 something that we do at Evolve and HUB, and it brings everyone together in ways that might surprise you. What moves you? Where do your passion lie? Where can you have the most impact? I am a firm believer in being able to measure that impact 乌鸦传媒� whatever that means to you. Maybe populate your lunchroom whiteboard with idea starters, get the conversation going 乌鸦传媒� give something back.

Need a whiteboard? (or a lunchroom?!) Evolve can help ;)

So, on this Pink Shirt Day Week - in a world where you can be anything friends, be kind!

Until next time, friends xo

Missed the last column?

About Jules Galloway:

Jules Galloway is known as an agitator and a change maker, and she wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 have it any other way. As the founder/owner of Evolve Design| Build and co-owner of HUB Office Furniture, Jules ignores the status quo and is fundamentally changing the way the design industry does business. Having started her first business more than 25 years ago, Jules乌鸦传媒� continued success comes from knowing when to buck the trends and instead dig into the 乌鸦传媒榳hy乌鸦传媒� as a way to understand what her clients really want. Especially when they have no idea! Jules has vision and it乌鸦传媒檚 not just about the right chairs to go with that flooring. She is passionate about function-first design and purposeful projects. She has a clear idea of what it means to be part of the community and she incorporates this into every aspect of her life. As an instructor at the Centre for Arts and Technology Design School, Jules encourages young designers to understand the fundamentals but to also be confident to take the risks. Her personal passion for child and youth mental health has led to non-profit organizations making up 80% of her design projects. Jules brings her heart into all she does. She is a relationship builder who has a savvy eye, strong business acumen and leads with her heart. She lives in Kelowna, B.C.with her two children, her dog and her fianc茅 乌鸦传媒� soon to be husband, Lee!

Email: jules@evolveinteriors.ca

Founder and CEO

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