28 Feb 5 Qualities of a Good Company Culture
Ever since the pandemic, people have been leaving their jobs more frequently. Dubbed “The Great Resignation” in 2021, a PWC workforce poll predicts this phenomenon will continue, with 20% of workers predicted to quit in 2022.
In order for employers to retain talent and boost employee engagement, they must create a great workplace culture where collaboration and individuality thrive. In fact, 66% of employees say a positive company culture with shared core values positively impacts their work.
In this article, we will outline the 5 characteristics of a great company and how you can develop a strong company culture for your organization.
What is Company Culture?
Company culture is a series of shared values, beliefs, and norms that shape the work environment and overall atmosphere within the organization. Defining good corporate culture is the important first step in understanding how to fix “bad” culture.
Creating a good company culture doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, effort, and dedicated planning. But, it’s worth it. A great company culture can improve employee satisfaction, increase productivity, and attract top talent / increase employee retention.
Ultimately, a strong company culture empowers employees to take ownership of their own experience at work while supporting them in achieving their professional goals.
By focusing on developing such a culture, organizations can create an environment where every team member feels valued and appreciated, ultimately leading to increased productivity and success over time.
Below are 5 Ways to Create an Excellent Company Culture
1. Define Company Culture
It’s not sufficient to desire a positive company environment and employee engagement and increased morale that come from one. First and foremost, organization leaders must define their company culture specifically.
Why? Work culture is more than just the company’s mission, values, and vision that an organization holds dear. It is also about employees’ experiences and interactions within an organization, and how those experiences shape their perceptions of the company as a whole.
Therefore, leadership or founders should take time to discuss and define the hallmarks of their culture. Existing companies should consider asking the employees or department representatives for their input.
Your company culture should be part of your mission statement. A strong and positive company culture fosters a sense of belonging, encourages collaboration, and motivates employees to perform at their best. It creates a shared purpose and common expectations that align with the company’s goals and objectives.
2. Set and Communicate Clear Goals and Priorities
Setting and communicating clear goals and priorities is an essential part of a great company culture. Part of what makes employees feel disheartened is unfair or unclear expectations. For example, employees should never have to guess if they’re on the right track or wonder “what’s the point” of their work.
By communicating clear goals, employees can better understand the organization’s mission and direction, which in turn helps them to feel like their work is valued and work more effectively towards common goals.
Additionally, by empowering employees to set their own priorities, organizations can create a culture of accountability and engagement, where everyone has a sense of ownership over their contributions to the company’s overall success.
Let’s not forget the importance of communication in general in a business. One of the hallmarks of great company culture is open communication between all chains of command. When an employee feels like they’re being heard, they’re more likely to enjoy their work and recommend the business to someone else.
3. Create a Habit of Recognition
How a company recognizes and celebrates performance reveals a lot about the culture. Creating a habit of recognition is important to company culture because it helps build strong relationships between employees and managers, encourages teamwork and collaboration, and motivates people to stay engaged and productive at work.
By positively and regularly recognizing employees for their contributions, managers are able to foster a sense of community and accountability in the workplace, which can help boost morale, loyalty, and overall productivity.
Implement a rewards and recognition program that acknowledges outstanding performance. This can include bonuses, gift cards, extra time off, or other tangible rewards. Consider both individual and team-based incentives to foster a sense of camaraderie and collaboration.
Additionally, by providing opportunities for employee feedback and recognition, an organization can help employees feel valued and supported, which can help increase engagement levels and reduce turnover rates over time.
One of the best ways to do this is by using a tool like STRIVE, which offers a variety of features that can help you foster a culture of recognition within your organization.
For starters, STRIVE makes it easy to offer employees rewards and incentives for achieving their goals or meeting specific performance targets. This can help employees feel appreciated and motivated to work harder, which in turn drives greater success for your company.
4. Craft a Plan for Solving Disputes
A company is only as strong as it is on its worst day. Conflicts and communication issues between team members are an inevitable part of doing business, but how they’re managed can make or break a workplace dynamic. Conflict and disputes can lead to gossip, resentment, and low morale without a proper plan.
Crafting a plan for resolving disputes is an essential part of any company’s culture. A strong, healthy workplace is one where employees are able to communicate openly and honestly with each other, work through disagreements, and resolve any conflicts that may arise.
Having an effective conflict resolution policy will help your employees feel supported and valued. This will foster trust and loyalty amongst employees. One of the main qualities of a good company is its ability to address issues, learn, and pivot from them.
5. Have Fun
There is no doubt that having fun is an important part of company culture. When employees feel happy, engaged, and excited about their work, they are more likely to be productive and motivated, which benefits the organization’s overall success.
Additionally, having fun can foster a sense of camaraderie among employees and help to build stronger relationships within the team.
However, “fun” means different things to different companies. After all, nothing is worse than a company event in which nobody wants to participate. Therefore, we recommend taking great care to plan your outings or events. Consider appointing a “social chair” who is responsible for assessing employee preferences and organizing events that are bound to be a valuable experience.
We suggest incorporating fun when onboarding new hires as a way to introduce them to the organizational culture.
In Conclusion
For busy leaders who want to create a strong corporate culture, positive work environments, and engaged employees, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Having an all-in-one solution for employee engagement empowers leaders to empower their workforce more effectively.
STRIVE is an employee experience solution with everything from benefits, rewards and recognition, communications, and anything else related to the employee experience all in one place. STRIVE has everything necessary to improve company culture and build a happier, healthier workforce.
Its rewards and recognition programs allow employees to feel appreciated and valued. Additionally, via its personalized app, STRIVE empowers employees to take control of their own experience at work, allowing them to contribute ideas and feedback that can help shape the organization’s future.
To learn more about STRIVE, click here.