In essence, your work culture is a shared set of belief systems, values and attitudes that guide your company, mirrored in how you treat your employees and customers.
Thus, while every business has its own culture, you want to ensure that your environment is welcoming and respectful and supports collaboration and camaraderie. 
Read on to learn more about the importance of having a positive culture in a workplace and the different ways you can utilise that will inspire your team and help your business thrive.
Why Does Having a Positive Work Culture in Your Company Matter?
The following are the advantages of cultivating a positive and healthy working culture within your organisation:
Attracts Top Talent
It should come as no surprise that everyone wants to be part of a great company with great people and values. Of course, we all want to work in an environment where we feel appreciated—whether in the form of respect, recognition or the prospect of growth.
And so, if you combine these factors, you’ll be able to capture the best kind of talent. Likewise, hard-working and talented individuals appear to be more careful with their employment opportunities, as they should be. That said, building a positive work environment is vital to guarantee that they will choose your company over your competitors.
Increased Employee Retention
A high turnover rate can affect both your company morale and your bottom line. It capitulates poor productivity and less engagement and is usually very costly. So take note that if your company fails to live up to expectations, your employees will start looking for opportunities elsewhere. On the other hand, if your employees feel valued and they enjoy the culture in your company, your retention rates will improve along with your business’s overall performance.
Minimise Absenteeism & Avoid Burnout
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO)—an estimated twelve billion working days are lost every year to depression and anxiety caused by poor working environments, which include inequality, discrimination, excessive workloads, low job control and job insecurity which all pose a risk to mental health.
And that’s why, as business owners, creating a workplace culture that prioritises employees’ mental health and overall well-being is critical. Just as the World Health Organisation (WHO) states, “Work can be a protective factor for mental health, but it can also contribute to worsening mental health.” So, it’s significant to ensure employees don’t become overwhelmed or overworked to lessen absenteeism and prevent burnout.
More Productivity and Engaged Employees
Happiness, productivity and engagement go hand-in-hand. Employees who feel valued and have good relationships with their managers and coworkers are more likely to take ownership of their work and be more productive. They will also become more engaged and loyal to the company.
Good Collaboration
Having a positive company culture means you are valuing communication, interaction and teamwork within your workforce. Thus, these aspects can enhance how well you and your team members work together on projects since they may feel more complacent and willing to ask for your guidance and assistance.
Better Leadership
Did you know that cultivating a healthy workplace culture can also lead to better leaders? This is because workplace stress can urge people, even desired leaders, to turn down promotions. For this reason, establishing a positive work culture can help hone good leaders by offering them training and development opportunities and empowering them to make decisions. After all, if you can lead by example, it can inspire your employees to become better leaders themselves. Note that your people make your company, so invest in them.
7 Tips to Foster a Positive Work Culture in Your Company
1) Set Clear Core Values For Your Organisation
For your culture to improve, it’s salient to have clear organisational core values that are discussed and communicated effectively with your employees. Doing so will give them a sense of personal responsibility and belongingness and can improve their motivation and performance. Thus, when establishing values or your mission and vision as an organisation, aiming for a friendly, thoughtful and respectful company culture is an excellent place to start.
2) Communication is the Key
Management and leadership style that encourages open and honest communication is crucial in creating a positive feeling in the workplace, where workers at all levels feel like part of a team. In addition, it fosters a more comfortable and encouraging environment. So, see to it that your employees’ questions, ideas and feedback are welcome and heard.
Likewise, it’s important to note that you won’t always like what you hear. In that case, rather than reacting with anger, you must try to learn from it. Remember, your employees are your best source that can provide much-needed insight into what is and isn’t working within your SME company so you can take steps towards solutions.
3) Recognise / Applaud Accomplishments
Letting your employees know you recognise and value their performance can give them a sense of pride in themselves. With that, they’ll be more motivated to produce more quality work. Here are some examples of employee recognition or rewards:
- Verbal praise
- Bonuses
- Employee of the month
- Reward systems for meeting goals
- Awards such as gift cards
- Extra time off
4) Promote Diversity and Inclusion
Another essential ingredient for a healthy work environment is building a culture of diversity, respect and inclusivity. So make sure that all your employees are supported, valued and nurtured regardless of gender, sexual orientation, colour or race. For instance, they should have equal access to all the perks, rewards, and growth opportunities.
5) Prioritise and Protect Your Employees’ Well-being
There is nothing more damaging than toxicity in a workplace. So as a leader, show your workforce that you care about their well-being and that you’re there to help.
That said, you must never keep mental and physical health in the closet. Instead, you must encourage your employees to talk openly about their feelings and help them understand the importance of self-care, such as taking a break, getting enough sleep and eating healthy. If you lead with care and integrity, you will retain top-performing employees and keep your macro or micro business moving in a positive direction.
6) Make Work Enjoyable
Work has stressful moments, but being a professional does not mean you can’t have fun. So make an effort to add an element of lightheartedness to the workplace. A chilled-out work environment can lower stress levels and make work less monotonous. Moreover, it makes your employees come to work each day feeling motivated. You can organise regular interactive fun games, team-building activities and celebrations for achievements to lift the spirits of everyone.
7) Offer Opportunities For Career Development
Providing your employees with the opportunities, tools and training to acquire new skills and develop professionally not only helps engagement but also boosts retention rates. With that in mind, you must establish clear ways for your employees to get promotions which you can base on performance or meeting specific objectives.
Final Word
Indeed, establishing a healthy working environment where everyone feels valued, welcomed and respected is invaluable to the success of your business. So consider the tips and strategies mentioned in this blog to guarantee that your employees are happy, motivated and performing at their best.
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