What makes a great work culture?
Work culture — a lot of companies are beginning to understand the value of having a great work culture and are moving in a direction that supports employee happiness. This is because happy employees means more productivity and more productivity means a growing and thriving company. It’s important for a business to invest in its employees and nourish the culture. Below we discuss what makes a great work culture.
Make the mission and values clear
If no mission or values are set in place, it’s hard for company to create culture. It’s very important to have clear values so leadership can practice these values and instill them into the workplace. A company’s mission and values should be so clear that they are practiced everyday both internally and externally.
Create a work environment that fosters friendships
When there is a great work environment, friendships are bound to develop. Creating lasting and genuine friendships through work will not enhance en employees personal life but will also bring a level of positivity, trust and loyalty to the company. It’s a given fact that people will work harder and more effectively if they work with people they can call friends rather than colleagues.
Workplace involvement
Company culture is built upon how invested employees are to their employers. Hosting company wide happy hours and team bonding events (either during office hours or after hours) will encourage team members to be more involved. A lot of companies with great culture will actively have volunteer days to get their team together and involved to give back to the community. The little things can often times go a long way.
Be as transparent as possible
A workplace with positive culture will be as transparent a possible so that every team member knows where the company is headed and where they stand within that company. Lack of communication often results in a culture of insecurity and uncertainty. The more the top communicates with the team will help get everyone on the same page and feel included in the intentions of the company.
Celebrate the wins
A great company will have processes in places that recognize performance and company/team wins. The act of celebrating together will strengthen the team and create a culture of success. Everyone wants to be recognized so it’s important to implement a process as early as possible to keep team members engaged and fulfilled.
Leaders should be visible and accessible
Employees support leaders who are transparent and accessible to them. Especially if they are authentic and are willing to invest in their employees. When an organization’s leaders make themselves available to everyone, it creates a sense of unity, and employees are much more likely to feel good about the goals they’re working towards and the company’s mission.
Create comfortable workspaces with office perks
The kind of environment that employees work in each can easily effect the way the employees feel about their employer or the type of work that they’re performing. Creating an environment with a comfortable workspaces, i.e., lounge areas, stocked fridge/snacks, natural light, etc. will really contribute significantly to morale levels.
Keep things positive
Positive workspaces and thriving company cultures are where each employee feels valued, heard, and recognized. There’s absolutely no place for negative energy and gossiping in the work environment. Although it’s bound to happen in any team environment, it’s best to set the tone of inclusiveness and transparency and to ward off any behavior that is not constructive or kind.
Keep it diverse
Great companies and institutions embrace diversity. They embrace diversity in everything from hiring to thought and how they approaches problems. If a company is diverse, it should be a direct reflection of the team on a daily basis.
Ongoing career development opportunities
Building culture does not just come from having a stocked fridge and company happy hours, it also ties into giving employees the opportunity for professional development and advancement. Incentives and promotions will greatly contribute to an employee’s overall morale and will help building their confidence and trust in the company. Nothing says culture like long-term employees. Making sure your employees are happy and well taken care of will keep them on board for the long haul.
