8 Ways to Build a Positive Workplace Culture

Companies that have an amazing workplace culture are easy to spot. They have created environments that allow their teams to be focused, driven and innovative. Conversely, you won’t struggle to find companies that don’t have a positive culture. They often have high staff turnover, Toxic leadershipAnd gossip and rumors run rampant.

A negative culture is often the dominant one Reasons for low employee engagement. This can lead to low productivity in many organizations.

But how did they get to these places? Fostering workplace culture starts with you and will be an important foundation as you build your company.

Workplace culture is your company’s character and personality. It makes you unique and is the sum of your values, traditions, beliefs, interactions, behaviors and attitudes. A positive culture will always attract the best talent and Affects employee happinesssatisfaction, and performance.

Of course, your culture will also be shaped by leadership, management, policies, people and your work practices. For that reason, you need to focus on the kind of culture you want to foster from the start.

Types of workplace culture

A positive workplace culture can take many forms, depending on what your goals are. There are eight main types of culture that each have a slightly different focus. Let’s break these down and see what it looks like.

1. Dominant culture

The main priority is increasing rapidly; Therefore, they tend to be high-powered and agile. They encourage their teams to challenge the status quo and push them to develop services and offerings that are better than ever. They will stand out in the market, but its fast-paced environment will not suit all employees.

2. Clan culture

It is a supportive environment where employee input is as valued as upper management. Communication is open and informal, and is seen as a “family”. It encourages open, honest feedback to the management team and builds strong relationships throughout the organization. But it can come across as too relaxed and informal.

3. Customer-centric culture

The focus is on giving employees the tools and autonomy they need to always put the customer first. In addition, it creates Long term customer loyalty That company will be successful. Employees are given the freedom to make decisions and take pride in their work, but they may feel neglected.

4. Hierarchical culture

Hierarchical cultures are commonly found in industries such as finance, government, and healthcare. The idea is that everyone has a very clear role and purpose within the organization. As a result, these organizations are risk-averse and stick to norms and traditions.

This is the most efficient type of company. However, they can often feel old-fashioned and narrow towards employees.

5. Market-driven culture

This type of culture is performance and results-oriented. However, they often sacrifice employee experience and satisfaction. The main goal of such companies is to market products. In doing so, company culture is of secondary importance. This culture is extremely Susceptible to burnout.

6. Purpose-driven culture

Built on a defined vision, they attract customers, partners and employees who typically share those ideals. They usually give back to the community through charity. These companies often have high retention rates. However, the desire to return on increasing profit margins means they will make less money.

7. Innovative culture

This type of culture is constantly looking to leverage existing technologies and create new solutions. It pushes conventional thinking In favor of new ideas. Employees have the freedom to try and experiment with new things. But, the constant push to innovate can make employees feel bored.

8. Creative culture

They focus on end goals and how to achieve them. They encourage collaboration and teamwork and focus on providing new experiences to consumers. It’s less about the individual and more about the team. It builds strong relationships between teams and individuals, reduces downtime, and creates an environment where employees fear falling short of expectations.

So how do you create a positive workplace culture? Here are eight points you can focus on right from the start.

1. A strong code of ethics

Your team’s comfort and safety should be your number one priority. Unfortunately, a Recent surveys It found that only 11% of workers who witnessed unethical behavior at work felt affected by it. For this reason and many others, it is important to establish a zero-tolerance policy regarding unethical, illegal or discriminatory behavior.

2. Inclusive recruitment process

Different backgrounds allow different experiences, perspectives and ideologies to develop. Consider race, religion, sexual orientation, and educational background when defining your hiring process.

3. Optimize onboarding

Invest in your team from the moment you hire them. By scheduling training, paperwork, and check-ins with new employees, they’ll immediately feel like valued team members. There are a few key ways you can make the onboarding process easier and more effective

• Provide comprehensive training on company policies, procedures and systems.
• Assign a mentor or friend to guide the new employee through their first few weeks.
• Allow new employees time to ask questions and provide feedback on the onboarding process.
• Make sure new hires have the resources and tools they need to do their jobs.
• Provide opportunities for socialization and team building.
• Continually evaluate and improve the onboarding process based on feedback from new hires and managers.
• Provide ongoing support and development opportunities to new employees to ensure they feel valued and engaged with the company.

4. Clear communication and active listening

Establish clear reporting lines and appropriate methods of communication. Also, it’s important to clarify employee roles and exceptions. Finally, active listening will ensure that clear communication is effective and build respect within your team.

5. Regular check-ins

Managers should meet or talk to their teams often. They can monitor engagement and manage workloads but also identify problems when they arise.

6. Comfortable work environment

Make sure your teams have everything they need to succeed. Comfortable chairs, monitors, keyboards are important, but also consider things like healthy snacks or meal options and natural lighting. Provide a clean and well-maintained physical space with adequate lighting. Temperature control, and ergonomic furniture are also important.

7. Indemnification

Pay your employees what they deserve. Fair wages and incentives will make your team feel valued and increase productivity. However, don’t underestimate the cost of onboarding when employee turnover is high.

8. Encourage time-outs

You may have competitive time-off benefits, but employees may be reluctant to take advantage of them due to workload or deadlines. Encourage teams to take breaks and time out, they’ll appreciate it and productivity will remain constant. Emphasizing work-life balance will help your employees do their best work. This priority on their well-being will also help Increase employee loyalty In the long run.

Conclusion

Building a positive workplace culture involves several strategies. Other common qualities to consider are things like; Opportunities for growth, emphasis on creativity and healthy working relationships. Gallup reported, 51% of employees are disengaged at work, while 13% are actively isolated. As we mentioned earlier, company culture has a lot to do with it. So take the time to evaluate your culture to make the necessary changes. But remember that all cultures are unique, and will require time, careful planning and consideration. But in the end, it will all be worth it.

This article was first published in 2021 but has been updated and expanded.

Staff Writer: Jason Ellis is a South Africa-based entrepreneur and writer with experience in marketing, operations, business development and human relations. In my career, I have been exposed to many different projects, roles and people. It teaches invaluable skills needed in today’s workplace.

Currently, he owns a restaurant in Cape Town, South Africa. He is a regular contributor to websites and blogs on various topics ranging from lifestyle to business.

His passion lies in uplifting those around him, sharing skills and providing any guidance to those around him. You can find more of Jason’s writing at https://www.clippings.me/jaysonellis

Article Tags:

Business Opportunities · Company Culture · Featured · Grow Your Business · Leadership · Your Mindset

Article Category:

Find Your Way · Grow Your Business · Lead Your Team · Productivity · Your Mindset