5 Impactful Ways to Improve Your Company Culture

“Culture” is a popular corporate buzzword right now, but using the term and improving your company’s culture are very different propositions. To create real change, you must lead by example, encourage opinion sharing, foster team building and personal growth, and establish strong values. In this article, we’ll cover why developing the right company culture is so important and how organizations can get their culture on track.

What is Company Culture, and Why Does it Matter? 

Workplace culture is the combination of your company’s values, beliefs, and behaviors to create its personality and environment. It plays a crucial role in driving employee satisfaction, strong workplace relationships, and professional growth. In a recent survey, 44% of respondents said aligning with their organization's values and purpose is vitally important. 

In addition, a positive workplace culture makes employees feel valued, so they are more productive and stay in their positions longer. Conversely, a weak company culture where employees don’t feel valued increases the chances that you’ll lose your top performers.

How can you improve your company culture? These are some of the most impactful ways to do so: 

Lead by Example

If you’re the leader of a company or a leader within an organization, your team will look to you for guidance and direction. When you lead by example, you inspire your employees to do what you do! This type of behavior is known as “servant leadership,” which means you are modeling the behavior you want to see in your team. 

Leading by example includes building a culture of trust. Gain your team’s trust by following through on promises and listening to others’ ideas and opinions. 

Emphasize Team Building

When it comes to the workplace, team building is essential. Team building increases creativity, improves communication and problem-solving, and fosters a sense of belonging. Employees who feel like they are part of a team have stronger relationships with their co-workers and are more productive. It can also reduce stress and anxiety at work. This is especially important as stress can decrease productivity in the workplace and even cause health problems. 

Further, employees who feel more connected to their team and organization tend to be more loyal and thus motivated to stay in their jobs. This is especially important in today’s tight labor market, where it is challenging to find and retain great employees.  

Encourage Continuous Learning 

In today’s competitive marketplace, companies that embrace continuous learning and focus on professional development are more likely to succeed. A learning culture nurtures and rewards employee growth and shows that you value your employees. 

When employees feel valued, they are 3.2 times more likely to be happy at work. Encouraging professional development also decreases the likelihood that employees will seek other opportunities. Ninety-four percent of employees say they will stay at their company longer if their employer invests in their career. Allow team members to take charge of their development plans so they have ownership of their career paths. 

Solicit Feedback

To thrive in today’s environment, your company needs to adapt to changing conditions. To do that, you can’t rely only on your impression of what you’re doing well and what needs improvement. You must know what your employees think as well. That requires honest employee feedback. 

Transparency and trust help build a workplace culture where team members are comfortable providing feedback. But it also does far more than that. It shows team members that you value their input and perspectives and gives them ownership of their workplace. 

Establish and Communicate Values 

Establishing strong values is one of the most impactful ways to improve your company culture. Values help your employees understand the goals of your organization and help leaders grasp what motivates company decisions. 

Further, employees don’t understand how to progress within the organization if they don’t know your company’s values. Having and communicating clear values allows them to make the right professional decisions that align with the mission statement.

Enhance Your Company Culture 

At AchieveNEXT, we help mid- and emerging market leaders achieve their next level of growth with a range of services including DEI and culture improvement. Our DEI Roadmaps positively impact your team, your process, and your productivity.  

Our Other Company Culture Improvement Services Include:

• Workforce planning 
• Succession planning
• Talent management strategy
• Executive coaching
• Business relationships
• Sales team effectiveness
• Career services
• Leadership development
• Management development
• DEI/Culture

Want to learn more about how we can help you improve your company culture? Contact us today.