Creating a Positive Workplace Culture
Creating a Positive Workplace Culture
Productivity is a buzzword on everyone’s lips but what’s changing is the way it’s being approached. The culture is finally moving beyond outmoded ideas about how staff produce their best work, namely chained to a desk five days a week. Research, both academic and observational, clearly shows that acknowledging staff’s lives outside of work and making their day to day office environment pleasant greatly increases not only productivity but also overall job satisfaction. This increase further leads to happy employees who care about the future of the company and want to do their best. A company tangibly demonstrating that it cares about its employees ultimately reaps the rewards of a switched on and dedicated staff.
Improving productivity through the creation of a positive workplace culture should be at the forefront of HR managers’ minds. There are a number of steps that can be implemented, long and short term, to improve culture and, in turn, staff retention and engagement.
Positive Communication
It’s important for workplaces to foster positive communication between employees and especially employees and managers. Creating opportunities for employees to communicate their successes, worries, and requests will assist in the long-term creation of an open and communicative environment that will help to produce a more objective view of the business and its future. This can be done through weekly check-ins for personal feedback and through platforms that help to digitize aspects of HR, like regular surveys to monitor satisfaction and engagement.
Provide A Sense of Purpose
Employees should have a clear understanding of what their role entails and how it fits into the business at large. This ensures that a sense of purpose and greater objectives are attached to daily tasks that motivate individuals to perform at their best. It’s also a good idea to communicate with staff about progression opportunities and pay reviews. Competition is rising and employers must think of the best ways to retain staff by revaluating what’s being offered versus potential competitors. A symbiotic relationship between staff and employees will go a long way to create long-term job satisfaction.
Foster Collaboration and Mentorship
Encourage employees from different departments to get to know each other and each other’s work as teams work best when everyone’s strengths are utilised effectively. When employees have a rounded understanding of how the business functions it gives them a clearer outlook on the part they play within it, providing motivation. Consider establishing a mentorship programme to help employees learn new skills and get advice from those higher up in the business, you may be pleasantly surprised by how these relationships provide fresh perspectives on a multitude of business operations, thus improving and revitalising the business as a whole.
The benefits of positive workplace culture grow cumulatively over time as staff retention and satisfaction grows. It benefits the business in the short term whilst ensuring that a fantastic company reputation attracts great candidates in the future. Businesses will ultimately reap rewards if employees feel valued, heard, and encouraged, with higher attendance and better productivity. Employees are vital to the success of any company and it’s important to show them this.
Matthew Walker-Jones
Matthew is a freelance writer specialising in HR and recruitment content.
