11 ways to improve your workplace culture
Your workplace culture is something that every business leader needs to be aware of, as this can have an enormous impact on many aspects of the company.
Essentially, your workplace culture is the everyday environment of your business, which will be formed by the values of your company, management style, how your employees feel and interact with one another, and the general workplace atmosphere.
A strong workplace culture can help to attract and retain talent, improve the performance of individuals, teams, and the business and create an atmosphere where everyone enjoys coming into work each day, which is obviously a huge plus for all.
Read on for a few ways in which you can improve your workplace culture and reap the rewards of doing so.
1) Analyze the current situation
First, you should take the time to analyze the current situation and identify any aspects of your company culture which need work.
This may be glaringly obvious, but a good way to identify aspects that may be harder to spot is to conduct a companywide survey where people can (anonymously) give their thoughts, feedback, and opinions on what needs to change in the business.
2) Determine your brand values
Every business needs to have values, which they bear in mind with every action and decision. This is useful not only in terms of creating a connection with your target customer, but also improving workplace culture.
This is why it is so important that you determine what your brand values are and then lead by example by reinforcing them in the daily operation. So, for example, if you are a brand that values work-life balance and family, then remote working and family social events will help to reinforce these ideas and get your employees to buy-in.
3) Prioritize transparency
Issues relating to workplace culture often arise when employees feel that there is a clear division between them and management, and that they are being kept in the dark.
That’s why transparency is helpful for building trust, particularly if you involve your team in decision making and encourage their thoughts and opinions.
4) Avoid micromanaging
Leading on from this, you also need to avoid micromanaging as this can negatively impact workplace culture, create friction, and also limit productivity.
This is why you should encourage autonomy but also make yourself available for support and feedback. This shows that you trust your employees, and you should find that people will naturally find their best way of working when they have the freedom to do so.
5) Set goals and reward accomplishments
It is hard to create a positive, hardworking and productive workplace culture without individual, team, and business goals. Goals are a smart way to keep your employees motivated and focused each day, but you must also make sure that you are providing rewards and positive feedback when these goals and targets are realized.
6) Develop your team
Similarly, you will find that most employees want to grow and develop, and being able to do this within your business will be key for retention and building a positive workplace culture.
You should speak with each staff member and determine what their individual goals are and then find ways to help them achieve this, such as training, role variation, sending them to conferences, or promoting from within.
7) Offer flexibility
Work flexibility has been a perk for a while, but the pandemic has completely changed people’s perceptions, and now flexibility is becoming expected.
Giving employees flexibility in terms of their schedule and the option for working from home can go a long way in creating a positive workplace culture. Plus, you may even find that it boosts morale and productivity so it can bring benefits to both parties.
8) Study for a Master’s in HR
One of the best ways to improve workplace culture and drive business success is by earning a Master of Human Resources Management degree, which will teach you how to overcome the various issues and challenges that arise in the modern workplace.
There are various social, economic, legal, and ethical challenges that are inevitable in a business setting, and the way in which these are managed will have a direct impact on workplace culture and the success of the company.
What is even better is that you can take a course like this while you are running your business. RMIT University Online, for example, offers an online course that will make it much easier to fit into your schedule and provide you with professional accreditation.
9) Set up regular informal events
Team building events and activities are certainly useful and can unite a team, but it is also worthwhile arranging semi-regular informal events as it is often here that the strongest connections are made.
People will be much happier in their position if they enjoy spending time with those that they work with, so you should encourage relationship building in an informal manner. This could benefit the business in a few ways as well as create a nice atmosphere in the workplace.
10) Improve the office layout
It is hard to build a positive workplace culture if staff are cooped up in tiny cubicles in a dingy office space. This is why you need to make an effort to create the best possible office space for employees – an open plan office sends the right message and can improve communication and collaboration as well as increase the amount of natural light coming through.
11) Stay modern
Businesses also need to find ways to stay modern in order to build a progressive workplace culture and keep employees happy. Adapting to remote work is a good example of this, along with investing in new technologies, reducing your environmental impact, and embracing new trends and ideas in your industry.
It can take some time to improve workplace culture, but it is worth the effort as it can leave a lasting positive impact on so many aspects of the business.
These are a few of the most effective ways that you can build a great culture in your workplace, which, in turn, should improve employee morale, boost performance and create an atmosphere where you and others enjoy coming into work each day.
