5 Ways to Create an Uplifting Workplace for Early Childhood Professionals

If you’re in a leadership position in an early childhood program, creating an uplifting workplace isn’t just a “nice” thing to do. How your staff members feel when they’re at work affects everything from employee turnover to outcomes for children and families.

Adapted from the book Joyfully Uplifting Ourselves and Others, here are 5 ideas for making your colleagues and employees feel more comfortable, valued, joyful, and empowered on the job.

1. Start With a Warm Welcome

A surefire way to uplift someone in the workplace is to help them feel valued and welcome from the very beginning. Warm welcome ideas include having the new employee fill out a “Get to Know You” questionnaire (see the book for a reproducible version), treating your new employee to lunch, assigning the new employee an onboarding buddy for the first month, having the children in their classroom create art for the new employee, or having the whole team sign a welcome card.

The possibilities are endless! No matter how you approach an employee’s first day, include the following every time:

• A smile and expression of how happy you are to have them on the team
• A small welcome gift, card, or personalized note (you might include goodies like snacks, professional development reads, a journal, a candle, and/or motivational cards)
• Staff introductions and a tour of the workplace
• Assurance that employees can come to you with any questions or concerns

These simple things will start your working relationship on a high note!

ASK YOURSELF:

• What made you feel welcome on your first day of a job?
• In your current role, how can you add joy to a new employee’s first day?

2. Show Sincere Appreciation

Cultivating a community of gratitude in the workplace starts at the top. As a leader, your words carry more weight than you may realize. Never underestimate the impact of a well-timed acknowledgment or an unexpected compliment. Creating consistent moments of feeling seen and valued are the building blocks of a motivated team with a clear sense of purpose.

A community of childcare center directors in Las Vegas, Nevada, offered these ideas for showing sincere appreciation:

• “I make it a priority to point out things they have done and personalize appreciation to the individual.”
• “We have a board where staff can shout out each other for the great things happening every day.”
• “We hand out raffle tickets for longer breaks and extra time off.”
• “We have personalized staff awards at the end of year. Everybody gets one!”
• “I like to keep the break room clean and cute and stocked with some sort of snack or drink.”
• “I make it a point to remind them of the impact they make on the lives of the children and families we serve.”

ASK YOURSELF:

• Can you think of a time you felt truly valued within the workplace?
• How can you make your coworkers feel valued?

3. Share Knowledge and Highlight Strengths

Imagine a workplace where each individual is not just recognized for their role but celebrated for their unique strengths. As a leader, your role extends beyond managing tasks and must include shining a light on the strengths and gifts that make your team a powerhouse.

Show your team that you believe in them by pouring into their ideas and giving them opportunities to shine. One of your team members might have an idea that solves one of the biggest management problems you face! When you commit to unlocking potential and empowering your team, you lay the foundation for a culture that thrives on collaboration and mutual support.

ASK YOURSELF:

• What special skills, expertise, or professional talents do you have?
• What special skills do you recognize within your team?
• Who could you offer to teach or mentor?

4. Show Acceptance and Approval

Think about what you’ll be missing out on if your employees don’t feel accepted and comfortable enough to speak up. What problems will go unsolved, what projects will never be started, and what successes will be lost?

Encourage open and honest communication while demonstrating patience and respect when inevitable conflicts arise. Aspire to be an uplifting leader who is always ready to listen and learn. Flexibility, acknowledging work-life balance, and prioritizing time for teachers will further strengthen a supportive atmosphere.

Consider this thoughtful social media post by organizational psychologist and writer Adam Grant (2022): “It’s hard to keep an open mind if you don’t have an open heart. You don’t have to agree with what people think to learn from how they think. You don’t have to share their identity to be curious about what shaped it. Treating people with civility is a prerequisite for discovery.”

ASK YOURSELF:

• Can you think of a time when you overcame differences with a coworker? What allowed you to find common ground?
• How do you prefer to be approached when someone disagrees with you?

5. Sprinkle Kindness and Celebrate Milestones

Seize the opportunity to spread joy by surprising your colleagues with thoughtful acts of kindness. Simple, heartwarming gestures like an encouraging note or a cup of coffee on a colleague’s desk build connection while often having a domino effect, as staff members feel inspired to pay each small act of kindness forward.

Recognizing special days can also break up monotony and create an uplifting environment. No matter your budget, finding a way to acknowledge these occasions can be meaningful. Here are 10 fun ideas for workplace celebrations:

• Themed potlucks
• Costume and decoration contests
• Workplace scavenger hunts
• Monthly raffles
• Group arts and crafts projects
• Themed photo booth with props
• “Happy hour” delivery cart of afternoon treats
• Fun personalized awards night
• Group service
• projects
• Game and trivia events

ASK YOURSELF:

• Can you challenge yourself to commit one act of kindness in the workplace this week? What will you do?
• What workplace celebration suggestion is the most appealing to you?

For more practical guidance on this critical topic, see the book behind today’s blog post. Discover the secrets to creating a more joyful and uplifting culture that elevates morale, reduces burnout and turnover, and builds a stronger workforce to help all children thrive!