Creating a Positive Workplace Culture

Keeping employees engaged and happy is the key to success for any company or organization. One of the best ways to accomplish that is by creating a company culture that will encourage growth, foster creativity and build teams among your employees.

What do I mean by company culture?

The best way I can describe it is that it’s like your company’s personality: it dictates everything from how your employees are treated, what clients can expect from you, how conflict is handled, what employees can expect from management and peers, and what workplace relationships look like.

Here are a few key points to consider:

• Set clear goals and expectations:

Employees need to be clear about what they are working towards and what is expected from them. Once these goals are established, make sure they are always visible to your team.

Well-outlined expectations and milestones can help employees stay on track and motivated.

• Provide adequate training and resources:

Needless to say, employees need the necessary training and resources to be able to do their jobs effectively. Access to both will make sure they can perform more efficiently, and reduces the likelihood of errors/mistakes, or in some worse cases, injuries.

It is your responsibility as an employer to make sure that your team has all the necessary information and the right tools to accomplish their jobs.

• Encourage open communication:

Encouraging employees to share their thoughts, ideas, and concerns can help identify potential problems and improve workplace processes. Encouraging communication can also help build trust and strengthen relationships among coworkers. Make sure to understand each member’s unique traits and talents and the best way to address them. (Check my previous post regarding workplace interactions link here)

• Prioritize employee wellbeing:

When employees are healthy, happy and engaged, they are more likely to be productive and motivated. Small things can have significant impact; such as the type of food or snacks that are available in your facility, access to fitness centers and creating fitness challenges for teams, the possibility of remote work (once this current pandemic scenario is over and life returns to normal), flexible working hours, mental health support, among others.

• Address conflict appropriately:

Conflict situations are unavoidable in any workplace environment, and it is crucial to address them in a respectful and constructive manner that can prevent negative impacts on productivity and morale. It is important to be fair and transparent, clarifying all details when resolving conflicts, as the ramifications of misinformation on the spirit of the team can be severe.

• Recognize and appreciate your employees:

Provide your people with the autonomy and resources to make decisions and take ownership of their work. Foster creativity by having an open mind, encouraging new ideas, allowing employees in all positions to innovate, and rewarding successful, new ideas.

Recent surveys show that the lack of recognition/appreciation is the number one reason for resignation, surpassing financial compensation.

In case recognition or appreciation is not possible, at least grant your employees the opportunity to feel heard and valued. If you choose to take a different approach, take the time to explain to them why and let them benefit from your experience.

• Retain talent, invest in your people and provide opportunities for growth:

Yes, I am aware this is common sense, however that doesn’t mean it is common practice. Many growing companies often prioritize locating and acquiring new talents to join their team; providing benefits from different perspectives, experiences, a fresh mindset, as opposed to investing in their existing teams. However, do not forget that current employees are already integrated in your company, and are aware of many intricate details regarding your business. Sometimes retraining an existing employee is much more beneficial, compared to the time it will take to get the newly-hired up to speed, not to mention the impact on morale of current employees and the knowledge gap that will be generated when they decide to leave.

I hope that this information will provide you with some assistance towards creating your unique organizational culture that fosters creativity and recognizes talent, and keeps your employees engaged and motivated.

And if you need assistance, get in touch and let’s take your company to the next level!