In the previous post, we discussed the importance of positive culture for groups, including groups in classrooms and sports teams. Many of the same principles and benefits also apply to corporate teams. In this case, instead of the outcome being increased learning or more team wins, a positive company culture can lead to increased productivity and improved employee health. In order to build a more positive company culture, you must focus specifically on these five things: Communication, Empowerment, Employee Development, Incentives, and Adaptability.
Communication
Communication seems like a simple tip to build a more positive culture. The reality is that communication is a huge part of company culture. The way employees at all levels talk to each other and about projects can have a huge impact on productivity. Communication is a good first step to changing your company culture. This first means clearly communicating the changes you want to make. Once everyone is on the same page, continue the communication by providing everyone with regular, helpful feedback and by seeking input from employees at all levels. It can be beneficial to hold communications meetings in different locations like restaurants or at the park. This will brighten up everyone’s day and can spark better attitudes and more creativity.
Empowerment
People will automatically be more positive and more passionate about their work if they feel that their work is important. Making your employees feel valued within the company can do wonders for making company culture more positive. Empowering people involves lots of small, everyday communication. For example, always congratulate successes; instead of punishing failures, use them as an opportunity to learn from; and provide the space in meetings for team members to give each other kudos. There are also larger ways to empower employees. Such as offering perks like flexible scheduling, wellness programs, and volunteering as a company.
Employee Development
In the previous post, we talked about the importance of lifting teams from the bottom. This means focusing on the people who need more encouragement in order to lift the whole team. This same principle applies to the corporate setting as well. It is important to develop and train lower-level employees to make them feel like a valued part of the company. By training them, you will have more qualified candidates to fill other positions when it comes to hiring. In general, creating clear career goals for employees is also an amazing way to develop your people. By giving everyone the tools, skills, and recognition that they need to succeed, you can make your company a more positive place to work.
Incentives
One clear sign of having a positive company culture is that employees are excited to come to work and motivated to succeed. You can create this drive by offering incentives. These can be traditional incentives such as raises and work perks, but they can also be social incentives like company events. Through company lunches, outings, and parties, employees can better get along socially and therefore collaborate better on teams. For some, a little friendly competition and a forum for communication can be just what a company needs to incentivize their people. Consider signing your company up for KyndHub, where kyndfulness is gamified to encourage kyndness, friendly competition, and group communication.
Overall, Adaptability is the key to building a positive company culture
In the previous post about building a positive culture, there was the idea of “fladaptability.” This means being flexible and adaptable in the face of unforeseen challenges and obstacles. In the corporate world, the most important thing you can do when changing your company culture is to find ways to adapt. This could mean changing how you have always done things to try something new. It can also meaning teaching old dogs new tricks. For some companies, it can involve bringing in consultants to provide outside expertise. Without adaptability, there is no way to change a company for the better.
Is your company trying to change your company culture? We’d love to hear from you! If you’re interested in being interviewed for this blog, shoot us an email at [email protected].