As a small business owner, you’re focused on the bottom line – sales, growth, profit. But what if there was a more powerful lever that can boost all of those? There is. It’s your workplace culture!
Forget just chasing productivity; building a positive culture is the foundation for a truly innovative, profitable, and growing business. In fact, companies with strong cultures see a 4x increase in revenue growth. Think of it: engaged employees, reduced turnover, and a team that collaborates effortlessly. That’s the power of culture, and that’s a direct impact on your bottom line.
What Are the Elements of a Positive Workplace Culture?
Though many aspects of the workplace can contribute to the culture, these tend to be the main drivers:
- Leadership Style: Actions of senior leaders that define, display, and support the company’s stated values
- Communication: Transparent and honest communication that builds trust with employees
- Demonstration of Values: The rituals and social interactions that reflect fairness, respect, and belonging
- Workforce Management: Team structures, evaluation processes, and HR initiatives that promote and support employees in displaying cultural values
Focus on aligning these critical elements to build and sustain a positive workplace culture.
The Benefits of a Positive Workplace for Small Teams
Employees working in a positive environment are more enthusiastic about what they do and where they are. According to Gallup, employees who report a sense of connection to their organizational culture are four times more likely to be engaged at work.
Additionally, they’re 43% less likely to look for another job. This means that a focus on culture can help small organizations save on turnover expenses, which Gallup estimates cost a business one-half to two times an employee’s annual salary.
A positive culture can also improve teamwork and collaboration, making small teams more efficient and inspiring creativity and innovation that will contribute to growth.
Strategies to Build and Maintain a Positive Culture in Your Small Organization
If you’re a leader in a small organization, consider implementing these strategies to keep your employees engaged, excited, and inspired to do their best work.
Define and Communicate Company Values
Look at your company’s mission and goals and decide which beliefs, behaviors, and values are necessary for fulfilling and achieving them. Ask for feedback from multiple stakeholders, including employees and customers. Create a written document outlining these values, including examples of how you want them to play out in everyday scenarios.
Be consistent in communicating these values during onboarding, performance reviews, meetings, and other interactions. Work closely with leadership to make sure company values are reflected in their behaviors and decisions.
Recognize and Reward High-Performing Employees
It’s vital to publicly and privately recognize those employees who consistently demonstrate company values. This stresses the significance of those values to all employees. Some meaningful rewards for a small team may include:
- Personalized, handwritten thank-you notes
- An additional day of paid time off
- Lunch from a restaurant of their choosing
- A spotlight in the company newsletter or social media page
- An online professional development course or webinar
Survey your employees to find out how they like to be rewarded and what makes them feel most appreciated.
Prioritize the Employee Experience
Empowering your employees with the support and resources they need to do great work is essential in all areas of your organization. Leadership should communicate openly and transparently and encourage all team members to do the same.
Consider hosting company-wide or team lunches and events that focus on fun and instill the value of teamwork. Continue to drive employee engagement by asking for feedback, involving lower-level employees in decision-making, and encouraging them to share innovative ideas.
Constantly remind your workforce that you care about them beyond their productivity by developing policies that promote their well-being.
Maintain Culture in Hybrid or Remote Settings
Employees working remotely are still part of your team and contribute to your company’s success. To maintain a consistent culture when employees are away from the in-person office environment, you’ll need to establish clear and consistent lines of communication and ensure that remote employees understand the organization’s values and expectations.
Check in regularly with remote employees to assess their progress and address their concerns. You can also use virtual team-building activities such as happy hours, digital escape quests, or trivia games to foster collaboration and camaraderie between virtual and in-person employees.
A Great Culture Is the Foundation of a Successful Business
While sales and customer service strategies are essential for growing a small business, your workforce is the deciding factor in your success. A positive workplace culture motivates and engages employees, encouraging loyalty, productivity, and high performance.
At Focus HR, we recognize that defining and building a good workplace culture isn’t always easy. That’s why we offer services for small businesses designed to support employee engagement. Request a free consultation today to find solutions that will help your workforce thrive.
