Research finds higher productivity in positive work cultures

Editor's Note

A large and growing body of research demonstrates that not only is a cut-throat work environment harmful to productivity, but a positive environment leads to dramatic benefits for employers, employees, and the bottom line, the December 1 Harvard Business Review reports.

Creating a positive and healthy culture includes six characteristics:

• Caring for and maintaining responsibility for colleagues.
• Providing support for one another.
• Avoiding blame and forgiving mistakes.
• Inspiring one another.
• Emphasizing the value of the work.
• Treating one another with respect, gratitude, and trust.

Too many companies bet on having a cut-throat, high-pressure, take-no-prisoners culture to drive their financial success. But a large and growing body of research on positive organizational psychology demonstrates that not only is a cut-throat environment harmful to productivity over time, but that a positive environment will lead to dramatic benefits for employers, employees, and the bottom line.