November 28th 2021
Many professionals nowadays are choosing to work in companies and businesses that offer them a positive and encouraging culture. Likewise, business owners are learning more each day about how their office culture can impact their employees, both for the better and for worse.
Company ‘culture’ is a mix of many different aspects of life in an office or place of work, ranging from social interaction and morale to diversity and representation in the workplace. It can also include the space itself, which can positively affect productivity when considered too.
We’re going to outline some key points that we believe contribute to a positive office culture, so as a business owner you can get some ideas on what you can do to foster an encouraging and productive workplace for your employees.
Setting Company Goals & Corporate Social Responsibility
It may seem odd to start off here with ‘goal-setting’, but we really do think that if your company has a clear vision for the future, and more importantly a way to get there, your employees are more likely to believe in that vision with you. These goals can be a mixture of different things, from overall company goals like pledging to become a more environmentally friendly office or departmental goals such as reducing overtime and boosting employee support.
It’s also important to consider Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) when planning out your goals, as this can really help to build a positive office culture, as it can bring in new talent based on what you aim to do to help the wider society. These types of goals help to build a strong identity for your company, and in turn, a culture that will be built on change and progress. Many employees nowadays want to see change happen and look to their employers to take a stance on some of the big issues in todays world, so putting a focus on CSR looks like a winning strategy – for everyone. You can get involved in your local communities, back initiatives to go green, or even invest in social programmes, there’s no limit to the good you can do.
Rewarding and Awarding Great Work
A great way to build a positive office environment is to reward employees when good work is done. It harkens back to school days when you would receive a sticker for doing well. Humans are built to seek validation and understanding, so receiving a reward when we’ve done a good thing only makes us want to do more good things. It’s only natural. Now, we’re not saying to give your employees stickers for a job well done, but there are other ways you can reward them, such as:
- Monetary rewards
- Vouchers for great local restaurants
- Gift cards for clothing or homeware stores
- Pieces of tech such as phones or tablets
- Incremental raises in salary
- A first-class holiday for a family of 4 to the Bahamas
We may be joking about that last one, but you get the idea. It’s important to give your employees something to work towards – an added bonus. This will, in turn, help to cultivate a great office atmosphere and culture that is far more valuable to you in the long run.
Diversity and Inclusivity
Diversity and inclusion is more relevant now than ever. More and more businesses are adopting policies that give different types of people the opportunities that they should have been afforded years ago. More women on executive boards. Higher roles and better paying jobs for minority groups. Access to work for those with disabilities. You can enact stricter harassment and discrimination policies to ensure no one feels unsafe and promote the use of inclusive language in the workplace. Provide unconscious bias training for those doing the hiring in your company to eliminate the chance that someone qualified for the job is denied their fair shot.
The list goes on.
A more diverse workforce means more diverse ideas are coming to the table, with people from different backgrounds working together to find solutions for a range of different problems. This all comes together in a melting pot of innovation, which naturally creates a positive team culture, with everyone on a level playing field.
Visibility and Accessibility as a Leader
If you are a business leader, office manager or even a CEO, making time to be visible to your employees is a huge contributing factor to creating a positive culture in your business. Employees want to see the faces they are working for, so interacting with them regularly can help massively in boosting overall team morale and output. Think about allowing bookable slots for one-on-one short meetings with management, or weekly Q&A sessions where everyone gets to ask a question to upper management about the current state of the business.
Being accessible doesn’t have to mean being available 24 hours a day. It can mean that you’re recognising and taking the right steps to be there for your team, company, or managers. Building and maintaining a positive company culture relies on both action and interaction. So, it’s part of your job as a leader to be present and involved in the plights and praises of your employees.
Make Space for Humour, Laughter and Fun
As they say, laughter is the best medicine. Nothing can beat the feeling of arriving at work and being excited to start the day. That should be the ultimate goal for any business leader. That’s what happens when company culture is at its’ peak. Promoting laughter, social interaction and collaboration in the workplace is the vehicle for fostering that culture.
Naturally, we’re not telling you to let everyone go wild, because then no actual work would be done, but introducing fun into the office will create a great vibe every day and will make people excited to come into work. Why not purchase a pool table for the breakout room? Why not allow employees to put playlists of their favourite music on in the office? There are countless things that you can do to really lift up the atmosphere in the workplace, and they will all have a positive impact on the productivity of your employees.
Social Interaction and Team Events
A great way to really boost team morale is to plan exciting days out for team building. These don’t have to be drab ‘training courses’, but rather fun event-filled days which can help your team to bond and have a good time. You can take everyone out for a meal, go on scavenger hunts, plan an interactive sports event for your employees, there really is no limit. This in itself is a reward, as they not only have a day off of work, but they also get to engage with their colleagues to build friendships and feel included. This helps to increase their personal confidence, which can bring out great ideas. Team events are a fantastic way to boost company culture whilst also boosting your bottom line.
If you want to know how you can do this for your employees, take a look at our guide on how to plan a great team event for some helpful tips on planning one of them!
Cultivating a positive office culture is the backbone of any successful company, and you can take some of our tips here to do this for your own business. Happy and fulfilled employees produce higher quality work, so what are you waiting for?
If you’re looking to move to an office with more natural light and more space (which are also things that can help to improve your company culture), then head over and take a look at our serviced offices and managed offices, or use our free office search tool to find great offices in your area!
