A company isn’t just a monolithic block of the establishment. It is comprised of different peoples within different groups, and it is these people that propel the company forward. The thing that binds them together is not just a common goal, but also a shared culture. This shared culture is commonly referred to as ‘company culture’, and it is something that affects almost every part of a company. From making management decisions to hiring prospects to keep employee morale, it is a cornerstone of a happy and motivated workforce.
In our time today, we place a lot of emphasis on not just the success of a company, but also it’s ‘attitude’. We describe companies based on their inherent atmosphere and avoid those with oppressive company culture. Reports on how major corporations treat their employees to make headlines and everyone looks for a positive corporate culture, especially if they’re planning to join one.
But is it really important? Or is a positive company culture something only idealists dream of?
When Hard Work is Not Hard
When a well is properly drilled, it provides water that becomes a source of sustenance for those around it. A positive company culture functions the same way; it becomes a sustaining force that helps your employees and company to grow.
Studies show that employees feel happy when they are given value at work and their company shares a strong and positive culture. And we can observe this by sheer results. Companies hailed as ‘good places to work at’ receive success and see continuous growth. Thanks to their encouraging environment, their employees feel motivated to do their best and it shows in their statistics. Google, Facebook, Nike and other companies regarded as having great culture continue to flourish, and it doesn’t seem like their shine will fade soon.
How Do You Build Good Company Culture?
But enough examples, how do you build a great company culture? Is it something that happens naturally or is it something that is consciously targeted? The latter seems to be the case, as there are ways you can take to get closer to a positive working environment. Here are a few.
Create Clear and Distinct Goals for Departments
Nothing unites a team better than a shared goal. And luckily, a shared goal isn’t difficult to come by, as department targets are already a shared goal. However, making it clear and distinct so that everyone in the department understands it is the key to making it a unifying factor. Create a target that’s both realistic and ambitious- something that’s easy to understand and has clear tangible steps. This will encourage teamwork and collaboration, making reaching the goal ever more possible.
Health is Important, Have a Break
The best way to make a negative company culture is to overwork everyone and throw impossible tasks at them. This will make the office a bad place to be in, hindering any progress or productivity. On the flip-side, by providing adequate breaks and allocating tasks properly, you’re not just taking care of your employees’ well-being but also letting them know that they are valued members of the team.
It is during these breaks where they can recover their energies and continue putting on their best performance. Everyone gets tired, and denying this fact will simply lead to a company where its employees dread going to work.
Offices Don’t Always Have to Be Serious
Whenever we hear the word ‘office’, we tend to think of a gray and beige room filled with small cubicles and busy people hammering away on their keyboards. It’s not often that we equate the words ‘office’ with ‘fun’. And maybe this is where the problem lies. By adhering to the conventional belief that offices are restrictive and uptight, you’re allowing your employees to think that an office is a place where they can’t be creative.
You don’t have to turn the office into a playground, but a little humor can go a long way. Try having jokes on boring signs, or using brighter paint on one spot of the room- anything that can break the seriousness of an office is welcome.
Celebrate Successes, Validate Hard Work
Everybody wants to feel validated and acknowledged when they’re working hard. Nothing feels worse than giving it your all and receiving a cold response from your coworkers or superiors. Positive company culture begins in appreciating the efforts and hard work of those around you. A simple way to enforce this is to celebrate successes, big or small.
Hitting a monthly target is enough to warrant a small celebration- everyone worked hard for it, they should receive validation right? It is when your employees feel underappreciated where they begin to feel unmotivated to work, and an unmotivated worker often results in a gloomy company atmosphere.
