The last few years have been hard on companies and their employees. First, there was an abrupt shift to remote work during the pandemic, ready or not. The initial COVID slowdown led to mass layoffs, followed by tight labor conditions when things picked back up again. Despite some recent slowing in economic growth, the demand for employees remains high — and today’s workers are looking for more than just a paycheck. One area that has become increasingly important for candidates, therefore, is company culture.
More than just the work a company does, people are factoring intangibles into their career decisions. On top of benefits and salary, aspects of a company like charitable involvement, purpose, and culture come into play. As these factors influence current employees’ decisions to stay or go and new hires’ decisions to join, they’re critically important. Here are a few ways to improve your company culture to create the best workplace experience possible.
1. Facilitate Strategic Alignment
The everyday aspects of work can sometimes lead employees to question the point. They respond to emails. They attend meetings. But what does it all add up to? Having an answer to this question is what makes strategy alignment so crucial.
When an organization is strategically aligned, employees can work toward a common goal and understand how each task aligns with that goal. They can chip away at work one piece at a time, confident that they’re actually leaving a mark. The motivational power of this knowledge is huge. So communicate your company’s strategic goals clearly to your team members. Then keep them in the loop on progress as milestones are reached.
While every individual may not have a role in each particular goal, it’s still important to share information with them. This will build camaraderie and create a more uplifting, positive work environment. It also allows for celebrations when feats are achieved, and goals are nearing completion. Who knows? You may even get new ideas from employees just by sharing the strategic direction the company is going.
2. Champion Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Companies thrive on the contributions of their employees. They’re the ones executing the work, coming up with big ideas, and collaborating with one another. So it’s important to make everyone feel included while they make these important contributions.
A focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion will enable you to build a creative, dynamic workplace. A wide range of backgrounds and perspectives can prevent groupthink and encourage innovation — provided those perspectives are listened to. That’s where “inclusion” comes in. Creating an inclusive culture means providing a safe space where all employees can feel their voices are heard.
If you don’t have one already, consider creating a DEI resource group for your team. This forum allows employees to bring their whole selves to work and create new connections with their teammates. To take it up a level, bring in a DEI speaker to facilitate meaningful conversations throughout your company. When underrepresented groups feel seen, and employees from majority backgrounds increase their understanding, everyone can collaborate more effectively. That’s the power of an inclusive culture.
3. Foster Relationships
Humans are inherently social creatures. In personal life and work settings, there’s almost always going to be a social component to the job at hand. People enjoy working with people they like, and this camaraderie improves collaboration. To help your team members get to know one another better, one tried-and-true option is to hold team-building events.
Whether they involve your whole company or individual departments, such events can help nearly any company. They break down barriers and promote workplace friendships, a key factor in employee retention. Look for engaging activities that break up the day and will resonate with participants. Think of inclusive activities that get people out of their comfort zone and encourage them to speak with people they may not otherwise.
Don’t worry — you don’t have to hold these events every week. Even a once-annual trip to an escape room or other team-focused facility can promote team bonding. Your employees will work together to solve a problem and leave the event having gained new connections. No matter whether they’re new to the company or veteran employees, everyone will take away something positive from the experience.
4. Encourage Recognition
Being appreciated for a job well done can go a long way in increasing job satisfaction and employee retention. Team members have something to point to as proof of their excellent work. They will feel better about the work they do because they know it’s not going unnoticed.
Seek out ways to highlight the contributions of various teams, with a particular focus on employees with behind-the-scenes roles. Use team meetings to distribute tangible rewards like gift baskets or company swag, or go the digital route and email a gift card. Consider creating an awards task force to really drive home the importance of recognition for wins, career milestones, and innovation.
Intentional and consistent employee recognition can do a lot for a company and its culture. The more that people at your company feel respected for the work they do, the more motivated they will be. You’ll create advocates for your company and hopefully earn a reputation as a great place to work. That could lead to hiring more talented, qualified employees, further strengthening your business. Talk about a great return on investment!
Cultivating Culture
There are no perfect companies and, therefore, no perfect company cultures. But employees will respect organizations that put effort into establishing purpose, promoting diversity and inclusion, building relationships, and recognizing contributions. With thoughtful planning, you can create a place people want to work. From there, the success of your business and your employees becomes nearly limitless.
