Innovative marketing, quality products and services, and soaring sales are all factors in measuring the success of your business. But who makes that level of success possible? The answer is happy, dedicated employees who are committed to your company’s mission and values.
Your employees are the foundation of your operation. If they aren’t satisfied, your business will suffer. But, if they are engaged and feel supported, they’re more likely to be dedicated to excellence, and you’ll attract even more high-quality talent.
Steps to Improve Your Company Culture
So, how do you improve your company’s culture to reap these rewards? Here are ten simple steps you can follow to boost your internal culture and bottom-line results.
1. Be Transparent
One thing workers can’t stand is secrecy and silos. You’ll have a more positive office culture if you are willing to share information and admit your mistakes. You can even get the ball rolling by asking employees to submit anonymous questions or suggestions to management that will be discussed at upcoming meetings.
2. Define Your Mission
It will be tough to get everyone on the same page if you haven’t defined your organization’s goals and values. Sit down for some good old fashioned strategic planning. Better yet, involve all levels of staff in this process. Once you define your mission, publish it for all to see.
3. Align with the Big Picture
The things that your staff does daily should fit with the big picture. In other words, you’ll want to make sure that sales, marketing, and operations are doing things that will help you achieve your goals.
4. Encourage Collaboration
Culture is much more than ping pong tables and on-site gyms. One of the best ways to build a positive internal culture is to encourage employees and departments to work together. Create a mix of social events and business projects that will bring your team closer together.
5. Stop the Burnout Cycle
You may be anxious to hit certain sales targets or outperform a competitor. But driving your employees to work 10 hours a day or through their weekends won’t pay off in the long term. Burning out your staff will have consequences such as higher turnover rates and lower productivity.
6. Promote Wellness
Along the same lines of avoiding burnout, it’s a good idea to let employees know you care about their health and wellbeing. Avoid encouraging staff to work through an illness (everyone will get sick) and consider benefits that will promote wellness.
7. Dress Appropriately
Casual work environments might be popular with employees, but they should still be appropriate. If you have interactions with customers or business partners, set guidelines for how you want your company represented.
8. Leverage Technology
You can avoid some of that staff burnout and allow your employees to focus on what’s important by using the latest technology. Automation tools can take over repetitive tasks, and other technology can deliver efficiency and higher levels of employee satisfaction.
9. Pay Attention to Lighting
It might seem like a minor thing, but take a look around your office. Is it dark and dreary? What about full of institutional fluorescent lighting? Believe it or not, lighting makes a difference in mood and productivity. Consider more natural light in your workplace.
10. Invest in Your Office
Finally, your culture will be much more positive if you invest in your workplace. Beyond technology, give your employees a nice place to sit while they work and make sure that office machines are properly maintained to avoid unnecessary frustration.
Get the Support You Need for Small Business Success
Orcutt & Co. is a Cincinnati-based financial services firm that specializes in serving the needs of small businesses. We provide monthly accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, and tax planning services. Contact us to learn more about our services and to find out how we can help your business meet its goals.
