Workplace Climate - Essay Example

I have a lot of work experience before which were mainly in the service industry. One of them was in a travel company where I extensively used my communication skills and interpersonal skills in dealing with clients. The service industry is demanding since we need to please our customers; thus, the workplace is very competitive. There are many travel agents who need to meet certain quota of bookings which is really stressful. Surprisingly, the competitive climate was tapered down by good human relationships among employees.

First, everyone tried to be honest with their feelings so that others are aware if they are upset or stressed out. However, professionalism also sets in since one must manage his/her temper when under stress. My co-workers were supportive and during break time, they would give practical tips in how to deal with an angry client or rebook a missed flight. Another characteristic of that workplace is that we were like a family. As a Chinese, we believe in team work and unity. Fortunately, my co-workers tolerate individual and cultural differences.

Recognizing diversity in a company really contributes to a positive workplace. Employees do not feel discriminated and they work more productively since they are free to be themselves. Every morning, our boss calls in for a quick 15-minute meeting that reports the transactions done yesterday. We were constructively criticized and accepted the need to improve our behavior. This has greatly helped in creating a positive environment. If there was one department that needed some data or extra hand we immediately collaborated so that we can reach our goal for a certain day.

I think that is the essence of team work. Because of the premise of recognizing individual differences, we tried to adjust our expectations from one another. One co-worker would state” this is not my forte, crunching numbers so If you need more clarification, just ask me”. In this manner, we admit our limitations and even find co-workers who would mentor us. Even our boss is not controlling. Perhaps, he really knows the true meaning of empowerment. There is a high degree of trust and responsibility bestowed on us which we try to achieve.

If we need help, we do voice out our help by asking immediate superior so a concern can be addressed. Like any other organization, problems and conflicts arise. When there is a mistake committed, we evaluate on our meetings what went wrong. We identify people who are responsible with the task and analyze if procedures have been followed. It is normal that some employees get offended or upset but the manager clearly explains that pointing out problem areas in the operations is merely an exercise to further improve service.

But since we all get along together well, friction is minimal. In conclusion, the travel agency I worked for is a very stimulating environment since healthy competition exists. However, competition does not interpret to cutting each other’s throats. Rather, collaboration, open communication and honesty help the teams and the departments achieve the travel agency’s quota. It is very important then that each one of us believe that a positive workplace is possible if we work together well. That no amount of policy, guideline or rules can motivate employees to work well as compared to a friendly environment.