Workplace culture impacts employee turnover, employee happiness, productivity, and your business’s bottom line.
Employers often forget about the role that culture plays in business, but it’s important that you take the time to plan out how you want to curate your personal environment.
We’re going to offer some smart management ideas for the small business owner out there who wants to improve their workplace culture. Hopefully, the insights below kickstart a positive change for you and your employees.
Let’s get started.
How to Improve Your Workplace Culture
The first thing to note is that workplace culture starts with the management. If your employees are unhappy, unproductive, and generally apathetic toward your business goals, it’s probably not their fault.
Generally speaking, people want to enjoy the work they do. Make sure that you look at your employees as integral parts of your team. They’re just as valuable as you because their position is necessary for your success.
Further, they’re all individuals with personalities, desires, insecurities, and personal lives. For them to be happy at work, you need to consider the fact that their lives are inseparable from the workplace.
When you strip people of their individuality and look at them as money-makers, you lose the mutual respect required for a positive environment.
Employee Feedback
If you’ve noticed a flaw in your workplace culture and don’t know how to fix it, look to your employees. Ask them in direct terms what they would like to see happen in the workplace.
See if they have suggestions for the way things could change. Further, ask them what you could do better or what you’re doing that makes them unhappy.
It’s a vulnerable thing to open yourself up to criticism, but it’s necessary if you want to see a positive change.
Make The Workplace As Flexible As Possible
Flexibility is a huge advantage to keeping things light and positive in the workplace. If there are jobs that can be done partially online, offer that option to your employees.
If there’s something that your employee needs to do to ensure their personal life stays in check, offer them a few hours off of work to get it done. When there’s a parent in the office whose child gets outright as work ends, see if there’s a way to figure out how they can change the schedule to meet their needs.
Another interesting option is an earned wage access program. This is essentially a way for you to offer your employees their money before payday comes. Look through some questions to ask potential EWA providers so you can find the right service.
Generally speaking, the more flexibility and input that you give your employees, the more the workplace will work for them. That might mean that things shift a little bit, but it could also mean that your team is a lot more productive and happy than they were.
Need More Business Ownership Tips?
Finding the best company culture isn’t always easy, and there’s no particular way to do it. Each group of individuals will come with its own unique advantages and disadvantages. We’re here to help you work through more ideas.
Explore our site for insights into positive workplace culture, smart management techniques, and more.
