Every workplace comes with its host of rules and regulations that define the environment around it. Employees are expected to abide by them to the best of their capabilities. Of course, this is what is expected from every organisation. But, what you need to question is whether your work space offers people a space where they can operate freely under a controlled environment, or that they’re fuelled by fear?
Are leaders in your workforce capable of guiding their team towards their goals through freedom and not fear? If you still have your doubts, then we have a few tips that will go a long way in helping you manage talent effectively while also creating a healthy environment for your employees in the process:

1) Promote honest conversations 
Everybody wants to be heard. A junior might have an opinion about a final pitch presentation, or a mid-level executive may be dealing with a problem they can’t shake off but don’t feel confident to discuss. It is, hence, essential to build a work environment where people can voice their opinions. A workspace that inspires freedom builds an environment where people know that they can give honest feedback without facing negative consequences. In order to achieve this, you need to educate your leaders to be approachable and not intimidating. People who are afraid of their leaders will never voice their opinions, and this doesn’t work well with anybody because ultimately productivity takes a beating. Enable your leaders to be good listeners; encourage them work with their team as a team rather than a superior. The approachable an environment you preserve, the more chances are that your employees never find a reason to leave.

2) Encourage the free flow of ideas 
There is no hard and fast rule that ideas only come to those with years of experience and expertise. An idea can plant its seed in anybody’s head. And, with the right encouragement, it can grow into a product or course of action that will benefit the company. You need to ensure that your employees are encouraged to share their ideas freely. Usually, offices restrict the flow of communication between subordinates and supervisors, hence giving them very little scope of voicing their thoughts and ideas. In an open environment, subordinates are free to discuss their ideas with their immediate supervisors, the head of departments or even their peers on another team. Titles are not given preferences and only the best ideas matter, no matter where they come from. Now that is an environment that breeds creativity and productivity.

3) Build a workspace without walls
The original idea of open space office was conceived back in 1950 by a team in Hamburg that thought that this would ease communication between employees. And it worked wonders. While one might argue that privacy is often lost is such an environment, the benefits are far more exciting to look forward to. For starters, ease of communication. It is convenient to sit at your seat and communicate with your teammates, especially when there is something you need to show them on your computer screen. This further facilitates better collaboration and increases the speed of work. A cubicle office encourages employees to keep their heads down and work without much interaction. But, in a shared space, employees are more accessible, and hence it’s easier to work as a team. Secondly, open office spaces mean that people in different positions of power sit together, undivided by cubicles. This makes superiors seem more approachable and in turn gives superiors the freedom to check up on their team’s progress from time to time without putting them together in an intimidating environment, like a conference room.
When employees have the freedom to be themselves even in a formal environment, they are motivated to put their best foot forward because they are not afraid of being reprimanded for it. When talent is nurtured through freedom and not fear, your employees know that this is a place that will help them grow and hence they need to make the most of their time here. Let us know what you think?
 
If you're interested in developing how you manage your staff, why not consider a HR software tool to manage your HR functions.