How to Create a Top-Notch Company Culture
Once upon a time, the American workforce went into the office to put in their hours, get paid and go home. Nowadays, workers want more from their jobs. This trend is all down to the millennial generation, the largest chunk of today’s working population. They don’t just want to work for money — they want to have a job with a company that has values to match their own morals.
You can’t woo this type of person without a strong company culture. With these seven steps, you can create the very environment in which the modern employee wants to work.
1. Envision What You Want
You can’t create a company culture without first envisioning the environment in which you’d like to work. You must think about the future. Do you want to take a laidback approach to your production, or should innovation and hard work be the focus? You can choose something in between or outside of these parameters, too.
Company culture isn’t just down to the office vibes, though. You should also hammer out a mission statement. This brief will outline your business’s values and priorities, which will give you and your staff something to aspire to.
Don’t just put this together on your own. Be sure to ask your employees for ideas and feedback on the future of your company’s culture. That way, everyone’s on board and feels excited about the mission they helped to create.
2. Share It With the World
Once you have come up with the tenets of your company culture, display it proudly on your business’s website. Make it quick and easy to read, like MacAllister does with bullet points and bold-faced fonts to really catch readers’ attention. The people likely to see this page will include clients and potential new hires. You want them to know what you’re about ASAP so they can see your principles align.
Be sure to make your mission statement visible to employees in the office, too. Perhaps you can dedicate a wall to an enlarged copy of it so your team can see it and remember why they work for you, day in and day out.
3. Hire the Right People
Now that you have your mission statement written and culture envisioned, you can use it to help you hire the right people. Procuring the perfect staff is one of the main ways to ensure your small business’s success in the long run. Hiring well can keep the culture strong — people with similar values will only contribute to your chosen workplace style and mantra.
Come up with interview questions that will help you figure out who’s a good match. Ask them, for instance, how their purpose aligns with the company’s. A good hire will have inspected the website — and that bold, bulleted list of values, as described above. As such, they’ll know just how they will fit into the setup and what they can contribute to strengthening it even more.
4. Reward Hard Work
No matter what values drive your company, rewarding those who work the hardest should always be part of the program. You can create an overarching rewards program with big prizes for top achievers. You could send out a weekly email with a hat tip to those who have contributed a lot in the past few days. Even a compliment passed to a colleague can make them feel valued, a huge boon to whatever culture you hope to create.
Don’t let this trend start and end with you, either. Encourage office leaders to highlight each other’s hard work, too. You could also dedicate a portion of your budget to team parties, small rewards, happy hours … little tokens of your appreciation for a job well done.
5. Build Relationships in and Out of the Office
You’ve heard the phrase about a life that’s all work and no play. It makes Jack a dull boy, and it makes your office feel the same way. You spend so much time with your staff, so you should take time to get to know them on both a professional and a personal level.
Depending on your budget, a social gathering with colleagues can take many different forms. Perhaps you can swing for a huge holiday bash or a company retreat. Even a designated happy hour where you pay for the first round will encourage socializing.
Once everyone gets to know each other — and like one another — they’ll work harder for themselves and the team. That vibe will enhance any company culture.
6. Give the Self-Care Goods
It’s no secret that work-life balance is important, especially in today’s fast-paced world. You can create a happier, calmer work environment by encouraging your team’s self-care.
You can help your team take care of their mental and physical health in several ways. A subsidized or free gym membership can push them toward their fitness goals. If you make remote working a possibility, staffers can pause for exercise breaks midday or schedule doctor’s appointments. Providing therapy as part of the company health care plan can boost mental health, as well.
Ultimately, any step you take toward self-care will be a positive one for your company’s culture. Brainstorm and choose the best programs for your team. Then, watch as they flourish in and out of the office.
7. Be Willing to Bend
As time goes on, you might find your company’s purpose and perspective have begun to shift. Don’t dig in your heels — let your business change with time and wisdom.
Your employees will appreciate your willingness to evolve with the times, too. Your company will be better for it as you cultivate an even stronger workplace culture and mission.
With that, you’re ready to create a top-notch company culture. Start with step one and see where it takes you, your colleagues and your business. Spoiler alert — you’ll all be better for the incredible changes you’re about to make.
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