Looking for great power and potential in your organization? Your culture is the key.

If you’ve been in business for any length of time, you know the importance of company culture. It is the heart of your business and can have a significant impact on employee engagement, retention, and overall productivity.

Just to level set, we’ll define culture as the shared values, attitudes, beliefs, and practices that characterize the organization. It’s the way that business is conducted internally, the underlying tone and “personality” of the business.

There is tremendous value in creating a positive culture. It’s the key to attracting and retaining top talent and brings power to the organization. That power provides the internal energy that’s required for innovation and growth. 

Are you willing to be intentional in creating it?

The Importance of a Positive Workplace Culture

A positive workplace culture is one in which employees feel valued, respected, and engaged. It is a culture where people are encouraged and motivated to do their best work. The end result is increased employee satisfaction, better employee retention, and higher levels of productivity. In contrast, a negative workplace culture can lead to low morale, decreased productivity, and high employee turnover rates. 

Here's the key:  If you want a positive (and powerful) culture, you MUST be intentional in creating it.

Creating a Positive Workplace Culture: What it Takes

Creating a positive culture requires intentional action.  If you allow the culture to create itself, you’ll lose its power. Everything starts with defining what you want your culture to be and then taking steps to promote and reinforce it on a daily basis.

Understand that, while culture can be changed, the process becomes exponentially more difficult the longer it remains in its current state. So it’s important to get this right as early as possible. 

Here are some key steps to take in creating a positive culture:

Define Your Values (Preliminary)

If you haven’t already done so, define the core values that are important to your company. These values should guide your decision-making and be reflected in your company's mission statement, vision, and goals. This will serve as the foundation for the culture.

Define What You Desire

The first step in creating a positive workplace culture is to define what you want it to be. What values are important to you? What kind of environment do you want to create? How do you want your employees to describe the workplace to others? How do you want your customers to describe their experience in working with your team? Once you have a clear vision of your culture, you can begin to take steps to promote it.

Conduct a Culture Audit             

Take the time to assess your current workplace culture. This can be done through surveys, focus groups, and other methods. Identify areas where your culture is strong and areas where it needs improvement.

Lead by Example

Creating a positive workplace culture requires leadership. As a small business owner, you are the one who sets the tone for your company. You must lead by example and model the behaviors and values that you want to see in your employees. This means being respectful, honest, and transparent in your communications, and showing appreciation for your employees' contributions.

Communicate Your Vision

Once you have defined your culture and are leading by example, it's time to communicate your vision to your employees. Make sure that everyone understands what your company stands for and what you expect from them. This can be done through regular company meetings, employee training sessions, and other forms of communication.

Empower Your Employees

Creating a positive workplace culture also means empowering your employees. Give them the tools, resources, and support they need to do their jobs effectively. Encourage them to take ownership of their work and to contribute their ideas and suggestions.

Align Their Efforts

Alignment and personal / positive accountability are keys to performance. Ensuring that employees are crystal clear on their roles, responsibilities, goals, and targets reduces frustration and confusion. Reducing that frustration and confusion is key to protecting your team from an energy drain.

Celebrate Successes

Finally, it's important to celebrate your successes. When your employees achieve their goals, take the time to recognize and reward them. Celebrating successes helps to build morale and reinforces the positive aspects of your workplace culture.

Recommendations for Promoting Your Workplace Culture

Now that you understand the importance of creating a positive workplace culture and what it takes to achieve it, here are five recommendations to help you define and promote the culture that will help your business grow:

Recognize Touch Points

Because culture is a reflection of the practices of the business, it’s important to ensure that the practices, systems, and policies are consistent with the culture that you’re wanting to create. For example, if you’re focused on creating a higher level of innovation in your business, policies that restrict employees from taking appropriate risks would create a disconnect. If you’re interested in driving a better employee experience, organizational practices that create unnecessary frustration would be counter-productive. Ensure that you

Promote Diversity and Inclusion

Create a workplace that is welcoming to people from diverse backgrounds. Encourage open communication, respect for different perspectives, and a willingness to learn from one another.

Encourage Work-Life Balance

Promote work-life balance by offering flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting if possible. But regardless of the work location, encourage employees to maintain an appropriate balance. Especially your top performers as they tend to push themselves harder (hence the results). 

Prioritize Communication and Feedback

Open and honest communication is critical for maintaining a positive workplace culture. Encourage your team members to share their ideas, concerns, and feedback openly, and provide them with multiple channels to do so. Regularly scheduled team meetings, one-on-one check-ins, suggestion boxes, or online platforms for feedback and ideas are all excellent ways to keep the lines of communication open. Ensure that you respond to feedback quickly and transparently, and that you act on any actionable feedback to show your team members that their input is valuable.

Creating a culture of open communication and feedback is crucial for fostering a positive workplace culture. When employees feel that they can openly express their thoughts, ideas, and concerns without fear of reprisal, they are more likely to feel engaged and invested in their work.

To encourage open communication and feedback, start by creating a safe and respectful environment where employees feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and opinions. This means actively listening to what they have to say and being willing to address any concerns or issues that arise. Additionally, make sure to provide regular opportunities for feedback, such as employee surveys or one-on-one meetings with managers.

Celebrate Successes and Recognize Achievements

Celebrating successes and recognizing achievements is essential for maintaining a positive workplace culture. When employees feel that their hard work is appreciated and recognized, they are more likely to continue putting in the effort to help the business succeed. This can range anywhere from simple thank-you notes or shoutouts during a meeting to more formal awards or bonuses.

When creating a culture of celebration and recognition, it is important to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate. This means recognizing not only the top performers but also those who have made progress or contributed to the success of a project. Additionally, make sure that recognition is timely and relevant. Recognizing achievements promptly shows employees that their efforts are valued and that their hard work is not going unnoticed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, creating a positive workplace culture is a critical step towards building a thriving and successful business. A positive workplace culture can help to boost morale, increase productivity, and foster innovation and creativity. However, it requires intentional and consistent effort to establish and maintain it. By focusing on values, setting clear expectations, leading by example, celebrating successes, and encouraging open communication and feedback, small businesses can cultivate a workplace culture that promotes engagement, productivity, and growth. Remember, a positive workplace culture is an investment in your team and your business's success..