5 Ways to Develop a Winning Company Culture
All successful companies are unique in their own way. If there's one thing they all have in common, though, it's their winning company culture.
Why is company culture so important? Simple: it creates an atmosphere that motivates your employees and makes them want to stick around. But creating company culture doesn't happen overnight—or by accident.
Need some help in cultivating a positive company culture? Here are five steps that will help you achieve that with as little fuss as possible.
1. Define the Culture
It all starts with defining the culture you want to foster. Do you want a casual work environment or a fast-paced office where there's more drive to excel? Do you focus on professional development or giving back to the community?
It's all about figuring out which values matter most to your company. For best results, have your employees participate in this conversation. After all, they're the ones who will end up working within your company culture.
Keep in mind that developing a company culture isn't a passive process. Once you define what it should look like, you can't sit back and watch it take effect. Instead, you need to act on the values you've outlined.
2. Emphasize Purpose
No employee wants to feel like a cog in the wheel. If they're doing tasks that don't contribute to something they value, they won't feel motivated to do them. At some point, their productivity will start dropping.
With the right culture, your employees will realize they're serving a greater purpose. Once they know their work contributes to the company as a whole, they're more likely to look beyond their current to-do list.
3. Encourage Socialization
Very few people want to join a culture that's all work and no play. That's why many companies institute events to encourage social interaction. That can be anything from a kickball league to a company-sponsored getaway.
If events aren't an option, consider introducing impromptu happy hours with some team members. Any type of fun outing will help create a close-knit and positive company culture.
4. Promote Self-Care
In this digital age, there's very little separating work and home lives. For many people, this can make it harder to maintain health and happiness. As their employer, you can help them by encouraging self-care.
One thing that can really make an impact here is introducing flexible work schedules. Depending on your business, you may even be able to offer remote work. For motivating factors, gym memberships can do the trick.
5. Reward Effort
We all enjoy getting a pat on the back when we do something well. Other than recognizing our effort, this show of praise doubles as genuine appreciation. That's true for everyone, from managers to team members.
That's also why recognizing effort is the cornerstone of every work culture. Formal recognition programs are a good start, but this should be a clear theme in the office. Aim to create a culture of appreciation.
More on Creating Company Culture
As long as you follow the above steps, creating company culture that works will be far easier. Remember: culture isn't something that happens by itself. It takes active participation, from both employees and employers.
Not sure how to create a company culture that will help accelerate your business growth? We can help you—contact us here to get started!