Imagine waking up and being excited about going to work. What would it take for that to happen? Perhaps a boss who understood your needs? Coworkers who were easy to collaborate with? Clear communication between departments? A challenging, but manageable workload? Good pay, benefits, and some fun office perks like free lunches? In short, most of us require a work environment that supports our needs while encouraging productivity in order to be happy and successful in our jobs. Employee satisfaction relies heavily on company culture.
Establishing a successful culture is crucial for the overall progress of any company and maintaining a positive atmosphere with clear expectations is essential to facilitating employee performance. A great strategy that lacks a supportive culture is sure to fail, while an environment where people feel they are being given the recourses to excel will result in a much higher success rate.
So, how do you create a successful culture?
Encourage Communication
Surprise! When everyone is on the same page, things run more smoothly! Set goals and develop strategies to achieve them. And then share those with your teams. Inclusive environments foster a stronger sense of belonging, which can increase performance.
Accept Failure
It’s inevitable. Acknowledging that fact from the beginning enables everyone to get over their “fear” of it happening. If employees know they will be supported when it happens, they’ll be more likely to take (appropriate) risks, which can lead to innovation. When people are afraid, they can’t perform to their full potential, as fear is one of the leading factors that holds us back and prevents us from trying new things.
Look for the Positive
We’ve all felt what it’s like to work with/around negative people—their energy sucks everyone else down to their level. We feed off of those around us. Create an atmosphere where everyone lifts one another up. Finger pointing and attempting to place blame is never productive. When a problem arises, work to find a solution. When mistakes happen, look for the lesson to be learned and grow. Everyone will be better for it. A culture that focuses on learning from mistakes will always be more equipped to deal with them when they arise.
Provide Assistance
Make sure employees have the resources they need to succeed. That may mean providing additional training, one-on-one feedback, updated equipment/software, or extending deadlines. Understand your employees’ needs and let them know they can rely on you to back them up.
Ensure Employees Have a Voice
This can be as simple as a suggestion box where employees can anonymously provide feedback. The key here, however, is that all suggestions must be thoroughly considered. Just allowing people voice their thoughts/opinions/concerns isn’t enough. Their suggestions must be appropriately addressed as well.
Treat People Equally and Individually
This might sound contradictory, but it simply means that, while everyone should be treated fairly and equally, their individual needs also need to be taken into consideration. Some might need more supervision or verbal encouragement while others thrive being left with complete autonomy on a project.
Bring Back Basics
We all want to be respected, appreciated, and acknowledged. Be kind and remember that a simple, “Thank you,” goes a long way. And don’t forget to have some fun. Sure, it’s work, but we all like to have fun while doing it. Have a company picnic, organize a holiday party, or join an intramural sport with coworkers. The more you bond outside of work, the stronger the team will be at work.
Obviously, each environment is unique and the type of culture you cultivate will be specific to the needs of your individual organization. While a majority of these examples are universal, it’s up to you to decide what culture will work best for the success of your company.
Poll:
Which aspect of work culture is most important to you?
(Please let us know in the comments!)
- Work/life balance
- Benefits package (health care, PTO)
- Flexible hours
- Positive/likable coworkers
- Feeling challenged
Dr. Bert Shlensky, president of Startup Connection ( www.startupconection.net ) is a graduate of Sloan School of Management at M.I.T. He served as the president of WestPoint Pepperell’s apparel fabrics business as well as the President & CEO of Sure Fit Products. Having provided counseling to over 2,000 clients, his focus is on working with select startups and small businesses.
Call Bert at 914-632-6977 or BShlensky@startupconnection.net