Having a strong company culture is crucial for the success of any business. According to a study by Harvard Business Review, companies with a strong culture experience a remarkable four times higher revenue growth compared to those who don’t.
Building a positive culture is not an accidental process, rather it requires deliberate planning and maintenance over time. The time and resources invested in cultivating a positive culture pay off in the form of better employee retention, improved productivity, and a workplace that is highly recommended by its staff to their friends and acquaintances.
Nurture a Collaborative Environment
Effective collaboration is essential to building a positive workplace culture. When employees work as a team to create new ideas and solutions, they feel more connected with each other and the organization.
To foster collaboration, it is important to encourage open communication among team members. Take the time to discuss project goals and the steps needed to achieve them.
Equip your team with necessary tools, such as internal wikis, organizational charts, collaborative documents, and other resources, to help them work together more effectively.
Regularly check in with your team, either in person or using a video chat tool, to monitor progress and address any issues that may arise. When individuals get the opportunity to see the results of their contributions, it creates a sense of connection and appreciation for their colleagues.
Give Employees Ownership of Their Work
Whenever possible, allow people to create their own workflows to get things done in the way that is most effective for them. Most people like guidance on overall expectations, but like freedom in accomplishing those goals.
Talk with team members regularly to hear their ideas for better implementing the company’s mission and goals. Since they are the ones on the ground doing the day-to-day tasks, they are often more familiar with the processes involved than team leaders.
Then, as much as possible, allow for flexibility and innovation. This can mean anything from allowing a mix of work-from-home and office time to flex-time schedules where employees work longer hours on fewer days.
The combination of freedom to come and go and flexibility in how their work is done makes everyone feel a greater sense of ownership and independence.
Promote Employees’ Personal Development
People are more likely to stay engaged at a workplace that gives them the tools to grow. Invest in your employees’ futures, and their increased abilities can bolster your company’s success, as well.
There are a wide array of options you can use to help people develop their skills. Create leadership and mentorship programs where people can shadow executives and work one-on-one to develop their skills in that area. Partner with local schools to offer continuing educational opportunities.
Invest in Diversity and Inclusion Programs
Research shows that more diverse companies are more innovative and make better long-term decisions. This is because a more diverse team means a more diverse set of experiences, backgrounds, and skills. You also wind up with people who work at your company having a greater sense of belonging.
Inclusivity starts with hiring and onboarding and continues through accommodations that can include good accessibility, mothers’ rooms for working moms, and gender-neutral restrooms.
Every company is different. Which measures will be most effective at yours will depend a lot on your industry, company size, and the existing culture at your organization. By adopting measures that build your company into a place where people are eager to work, you’ll reduce turnover, increase productivity, and continually grow your success.
Partner with ASAP Payroll to cultivate a thriving company culture that drives success.
