A positive and dynamic workplace culture is key to having an engaged, productive team. As a business manager, you want your employees to enjoy coming to work each day in an environment that brings out their best.
Not just because it’s the right way to optimize your business productivity, but also because it’s the only way to turn your employees into active brand ambassadors willing to do whatever it takes to see the establishment grow in results and revenue.
Now, you can’t just tell them to have more fun or be happier at their jobs (because they’re not robots; they’re humans with needs, emotions, and desires).
So, you have to get creative and thoughtful in implementing the right policies, designs, incentives, and interpersonal strategies that organically inspire positivity around the workplace. And if you’re looking for ideas, here are five tips you can use to help you cultivate a lively and supportive work culture that will keep your staff motivated.
Have a Company Mission that Encourages Positivity
Having a clear mission, vision, and values that all employees understand is the foundation for a dynamic culture. These foundational elements guide decisions and behaviors throughout the company and must promote positivity.
When onboarding new hires, ensure you articulate the organization’s purpose and priorities. Repeat them frequently so they become embedded in the fabric of your workplace and visible in your employees’ character and behavior.
And don’t just stop there; give these employees a voice to offer suggestions on how to uphold the mission better and recognize those who demonstrate the values in their daily work by awarding them trophies during festive events like team-building activities, awards dinners, or impromptu happy hours.
The goal here is to provide a template for your employees to follow because when your team is aligned behind common goals and principles, they will bring more energy and creativity to move the company forward.
Create Opportunities for Communication
It’s common to forget how important maintaining communication at the workplace is, especially during an expansion phase. But the truth is, nothing dampens workplace culture faster than staff feeling out of the loop.
This is why you must prioritize communication through regular meetings, emails, newsletters, and informal discussions. In fact, have an open-door policy so employees at all levels feel comfortable asking questions and making suggestions.
To create a sense of familiarity, have your employees join small units to fulfill a task. This will allow them to discuss and communicate with their colleagues and give them a sense of purpose and commitment to the organization.
When your employees are able to express themselves, even on the slightest occasions, they will be able to tap into their inner creativity and provide ideas and suggestions that can grow and improve the establishment.
Eliminate Distractions
Constant distractions can make it hard for your team to establish a productive workflow during the day. This may be because it’s an open office, and according to studies, employees who work in open offices are 15% less productive than those who have their private cubicles.
So, evaluate what causes the most untimely distractions—whether meetings, phone calls, or coworkers stopping by someone’s desk. Then, consider creating “quiet zones” where employees can focus on work for set periods without interruption.
If you have the finances, then redesign the office and have each employee assigned to their own private cubicle where they can focus on work and avoid minor distractions.
Provide Good Support to Your Employees
Your employees want to feel that their contributions matter and that they have backing from management. This starts with being available and approachable as a leader.
Make sure your door is always open for employees to voice concerns, ask questions, or share ideas. When they do come to you, listen attentively without judgment. Let them feel heard and cared for.
You can also support your staff by coaching and mentoring them. Fix regular one-on-one meetings to check in on their work, offer guidance, and help them develop professionally.
Let them know that you’re aware of their strengths and encourage them to utilize these strengths in their roles. Identify gaps where they need to build skills and create plans to help them improve through training, job shadowing, or stretch assignments.
Investing this much time and effort in your employees shows your commitment to their growth, and they will express their appreciation by displaying a positive mindset at work.
Entrust Your Employees with Responsibility
Another strategy is to display trust in your employees by giving them clarity around deliverables and deadlines, then taking a step back and allowing self-direction wherever possible.
Let your team choose how they organize their tasks, collaborate together, or approach solving problems. Avoid micromanaging their daily work. Show through your actions that you believe in their capabilities.
Offering trust conveys respect for employees as professionals while also enabling creativity and innovation to flourish more organically. When people feel autonomy over their roles coupled with an understanding of expected outcomes, they take ownership and become intrinsically motivated to do great work. Additionally, granting some independence signals that employees have room to flex their skills or test new ideas without fear of failure.
As the saying goes, “People rise to expectations.” The higher the bar you set and the space you provide to chart their own course, the further your employees will push themselves.
According to a study by the Harvard Business Review, those working in a trust-based environment report better job satisfaction, engagement, and commitment to the organization they work for. So, as often as possible, demonstrate your faith in your team. They will likely reward that trust with better performance and loyalty.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully, these suggestions will give you ideas to refresh your company culture into an uplifting environment that brings out the best in your talented team! So, good luck!
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