“Building a positive workplace culture might seem like an endless task, but with an uplifting culture at work comes a wealth of advantages for employers and employees alike. Recruitment and retention of valuable employees will undoubtedly improve, as well as improve the quality of work produced by a workforce. An increase in morale at work can decrease stress, creating a wholly more enjoyable atmosphere at work. When no one is dreading coming into work, collaboration and communication become simpler and more enjoyable for everyone involved.
However, there is no quick way to build a positive workplace culture. It’s a process, starting from where you are and taking small steps towards a more well-being focussed and employee-led company culture. We’ve put together a list of tips or points to consider when re-thinking your current workplace atmosphere and what changes to make.
Employee happiness plays a huge role in building a positive workplace culture. Read our blog for good ways to boost employee happiness.
Start Where You Are
It’s hopefully already obvious that a workplace environment cannot turn itself around overnight. Scrapping every aspect of your company’s culture will do you no favours. It will seem disingenuous to current employees to create a brand new look with no trace of what your company used to be.
Knowing how to build a positive company culture must start with an analysis of your current culture. Start with the positive and popular elements of your current set-up and start to identify what could be better around the office, either in-person or virtual. Start where you are and use what you have at your disposal. More gradual and thought out changes stand a better chance of being more sustainable day to day – constant changes to the office culture will become confusing and repetitive for many employees.
Flexibility
If anything has become clear over the past couple of years, it’s that people value flexibility when it comes to working. Where and when people want to work is different for everyone and will depend on their circumstances. Where possible, allowing a little give in schedules and work locations will be highly appreciated, particularly by those employees with children or other dependent family members. This will, of course, need to have certain restrictions and will depend on the type of business you have, but flexibility is key when it comes to employee well-being.
Give and Get Feedback
Communication is a huge aspect of a working environment, and it goes both ways. It’s important, to be honest about your business and the performance of your employees, especially with positive news. Rewarding people, even with complementary announcements and verbal congratulations, is always a good idea and you will likely find it motivates others to do their best work.
Similarly, if you are making changes to your culture, you should ask for feedback on the changes. If they are not effective in creating a more positive working atmosphere for employees and colleagues, you should then rethink your strategy. Ask for constructive comments and try to understand the kind of workplace people want to be working in. This will be hugely helpful in your company culture next steps.
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Employee Development
Providing your employees and colleagues with opportunities to grow and develop themselves can be great for building a positive workplace culture. Encourage growth in all aspects, empowering people to learn and providing the resources to do so. This will not only create a stronger and more skilled workforce for your company but also build self-esteem among employees.
Showing Empathy and Concern
It is a fact that people enjoy spending time in a place where they feel they matter. By taking an interest, having vulnerable conversations, and spending time catching up with colleagues and employees, you can show that you take an avid interest in your company’s workforce. This can encourage communication, meaning that people are more likely to speak up when they have a problem, which means issues can be resolved earlier. A more open communication type can reduce stress in employees as they feel more at ease when speaking their minds or contributing ideas at work.
If you are searching for more of the best ways to encourage employees to speak up, our blog is full of useful advice and tips.
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By: Richard Edwards
Published: 18th November 2021