There is no single way to strengthen company culture because every company has unique needs employers must meet. Examine your organization’s goals and then take a holistic approach to implement simple yet effective practices to build upon an existing working environment and team atmosphere. Below is an outline of three possible strategies that may help strengthen your company culture.
The Importance of Company Culture
Company culture is a set of shared goals, values, attitudes, and practices that characterize an organization. At the heart of every business model is the company’s mission, and what happens in the working environment directly impacts company culture.
That is why, in recent times, many businesses have adopted policies that cater to human relationships, not just between the producer and consumer, but within teams, departments, and organizations as a whole. Every member of an organization is valuable, and companies are searching for ways to demonstrate employee appreciation to keep turnover rates low and employee happiness at an all-time high.
1. Build Strong Employee Relationships Through Team-Building Exercises
Perhaps in a smaller company, there aren’t as many obstacles to building lasting relationships among employees as in organizations with multiple departments. However, that does not mean there isn’t a need to improve upon interpersonal relations.
Team-building exercises benefit everyone involved. Employers and employees alike can reap the benefits of dinner parties or online events in light of the pandemic. For instance, virtual murder mystery team building activities might be a creative and engaging event to get the team to come together. Who doesn’t love a good puzzle? The popularity of playing detective has increased as escape rooms gain traction.
Virtual events are fantastic regardless of the organization’s size, as there is a myriad of activities that can accommodate small groups to large ones. They can be a thrilling yet low-stakes manner of getting to know one’s colleagues and enhancing critical thinking skills simultaneously as teammates cooperate to solve the crime.
Virtual murder mystery team-building exercises are inexpensive and beat a mandated office mixer after an already-grueling eight-hour workday.
2. Encourage Frequent Employee Recognition
It’s easy to forget amid the constant grind of day-to-day operations that the reason for a company’s success rests on the shoulders of dedicated employees. Managers may get rewarded for their leadership capabilities, and bosses receive accolades from their higher-ups at corporate, but what about the administrative and IT workers? What about the essential employees who work exhausting shifts and perform their duties superbly so that their managers look good?
Companies that take a moment to recognize management and employees from every department – sitting at every rung of the company’s ladder – tend to have happier employees overall. They also perform better and receive praise from staff. Businesses that fail to acknowledge the hard work of each team member are the same businesses that see high turnover rates and are subject to the constant scrutiny of their competitors.
It’s crucial to pay mind not only to those in management positions but also to the secretaries and line workers who help keep the company running like a well-oiled machine. Offering gift certificates, photo recognition, bonuses, or other incentives for performance are proven means of strengthening company culture. When everybody feels appreciated, business runs smoothly, and everyone is content.
3. Schedule Regular and Meaningful One-to-Ones With Employees
Just as recognition creates a positive atmosphere, so can giving a voice to your employees. Those not directly in a position of power see what management overlooks routinely. Minor company problems or abuses of authority may occur under the nose of higher-ups because there is a lack of communication within the organization. People on one rung of the ladder do not speak with people above or below them, and issues remain unresolved.
By scheduling regular and meaningful one-to-one meetings with your employees, there will be a drastic improvement in the company culture. When people genuinely talk to one another openly and with utter transparency, you can shed light on problems hindering your company’s success. These blights on your company may have gone unnoticed due to a lack of communication. Meeting with people from different areas of the company will undoubtedly enlighten employers.
Employees get to know each other better and gain empathy from frequent conversations between those in positions of power and the front-line worker. People often feel sequestered in their bubble while at work, and opportunities to speak to those from different divisions may be rare. Regular meetings between staff members will reinforce the idea of a shared goal they are working toward as a unit.
Conclusion
Using these three practical strategies, organizations can improve their company culture. While there are several approaches to increasing morale, emphasizing communication and cooperation is the primary way to bolster it. Fostering a positive working environment means that you are actively engaging your employees, ensuring that they feel valued, and encouraging participation in team-building exercises to remind people that they are part of a team.
