Culture is the driver for the potential outcome of your business strategy. It is what attracts suitable talent, increases engagement, and invites high performance.
A company’s culture can be influenced and determined by its values, attitudes and behaviors. This is a commitment and a responsibility to both your staff and your clients.
Your business culture is essentially your business personality and the framework of your business reputation. Employees thrive when the company they are working for has a strong positive culture and an inclusive community spirit.
Below are some key factors to consider when implementing a positive culture to your business identity:
Company Values
Company values must be continually communicated and exercised to inspire employees and maintain their credibility. It should be visually accessible on a regular basis through advertising and branding platforms.
People
The people you hire and the people you align your business with are the billboards to you branding. Consider the following attributes to the people invited into your space:
- Personalities
- Personal values
- Key skills
- Previous experience
- Personal behaviors
- Interaction type (confrontational/supportive/social/task orientated etc)
Policies and Procedures
These are a must have for all employees to site and sign as a commitment to abide by. Policies and procedures are implemented as guidelines for a one-directional standard across the board.
Leadership
Leaders must inspire others to perform at the highest level that they can. Their behaviors are duplicated therefor, strategic decision making that is motivating needs to set the tone. Sharing knowledge and being inclusive throughout decision making processes is also admired and appreciated.
Language, tone, and intention is also infectious throughout the workplace.
Communication
Good communicators are a company’s biggest asset. When exchanging information either verbally or non-verbally, the interaction and transparency shared is very important for efficiency, productivity, whilst also increasing morale.
Traditions
Big or small, creating inhouse traditions bring employees together. These can be birthday shout outs, welcome celebrations, morning motivation quotes emailed out, hosting special events such as fundraising and volunteer days etc.
It is important for employers to listen to how employees react to events and celebrations and acknowledge and invite their opinions to what they would like to see introduced.
Attitudes
Everyone should assume responsibility for their own delivery in their presented attitude within the workplace.
Always provide a kind and positive vibe and control your language and your response style.
Environment
A positive workplace environment makes good business sense. It is likely to result in less employee turnover, safer business practices and overall improve wellbeing. It is a shared obligation between employer and employee to create a respectful and harmonious environment. The goal in creating a positive environment, is to ensure a productive workforce that manages its performance and achieves results.
Take the below test to determine if you and/or your team are more of a fixed mindset, or a growth mindset. This test can help determine where some personality differences are, and identify potential learning opportunity for all.
