The Great Recession, globalization, and technological advancements have led to significant changes and stress in the workplace in recent years. How can we create an environment in which employees are better able to manage, and even embrace, the changes we encounter in our work lives today?

In “The Positive Workplace,” authors Kim Rowe and Patrick Howell offer some tips for doing just that. “Our ability to foster flexible, change-ready environments is part science and part art,” write Rowe and Powell. “Fortunately, we have a growing body of evidence laying out specific actions we can take to experience growth in this area.”

One key to making change permanent is creating rituals. Just as brushing our teeth immediately after getting up is routine and requires no thought processes around it, developing small, specific rituals, and repeating them often enough to reinforce new neural pathways in the brain, can lead to success in developing new habits. If you tie new rituals to various parts of your daily life, you’ll begin to notice significant changes—from eating better to becoming better at handling work emails.

Managers can help assuage fears of their employees by explaining the rationale behind a decision or an assignment. “Studies of linguistic patterns indicate that adults learn best when they understand why they are doing something,” explain the issue’s authors, “and the simple act of justifying requests with the word ‘because’ can help you achieve flexible attitudes in others.”

Clarity and the ability to ascertain whether a goal is likely attainable can be reached through the process of interrogating goals. After setting a goal and deciding on related desired outcomes, asking the question, “Given our current reality and our future commitments, will we really reach this desired outcome?” helps parties understand whether the goal is a realistic one.

Finally, striking a power pose can help alleviate stress levels in situations such as giving a presentation or taking on a new role.

Learn more about “The Positive Workplace” online.