Company culture is a powerful force that can attract top talent, boost retention, and even provide the competitive edge needed for exceptional growth. Most of all, a workplace with healthy company culture cultivates employee engagement – something only one-third of organizations nationwide claim they have.
While a healthy culture can make or break your organization’s success, like any good thing in life, it takes hard work and perseverance. Research shows organizations that intentionally invest their efforts to improve workplace culture and align it with company values are not only more profitable but also more recognized, ranking among the nation’s best companies for workplace culture.
What is company culture?
Company culture can be described in many different ways – it’s a feeling or a vibe, the personality of your organization, the temperament of your workplace environment. Whether your organization’s culture is vibrant, fun, and outspoken or diligently heads-down focused, one thing is clear – improving company culture creates immeasurable value.
Nationwide, Top Workplaces know the measure of success is rooted in a healthy company culture. In fact, when it comes to beating out the competition, culture is the only fundamentally sustainable advantage an organization can have in an ever-increasing competitive market.
Why company culture matters
Every organization has its own unique culture. Whether or not that culture is intentional is another story. Organizations that recognize the value of improving workplace culture understand that it is a daily effort. And while that kind of commitment may seem overwhelming, the positive business outcomes speak for themselves.
Organizations that intentionally work to improve company culture gain a number of bragging rights and positive benefits including:
Employee engagement: Employee engagement is one of the best indicators of a healthy culture. When employees are engaged, they feel connected to your organization and are united in a common goal – to see your organization succeed. They are passionate about the role they play and motivated to do their best to work toward common goals.
Employee recruitment and retention: Attracting top talent isn’t pure luck. A great company culture attracts talent that will sharpen your competitive edge and also help to ensure those individuals stay for the long haul. This has a positive impact on your employee recruitment and retention efforts as well as business outcomes.
Employee survey insights: Employees are the pulse of your organization and can provide valuable feedback about your organization’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as suggestions for improvement. Employee survey insights identify actionable steps to help build a people-first culture.
Business outcomes: An intentional workplace culture enables leaders to support the organization’s vision and goals, leading to more successful business outcomes, not to mention employees who invest their best in the work they do.
Six ways to improve company culture
Whether it is employee survey results and suggestions for improvement in the workplace that lead your organization toward a desire for change, or the tell-tale signs of poor employee retention, production, and effort, these six strategies can help put your organization on track toward improving company culture.
1. Establish and live your company values: Top Workplaces set clear values to ensure employees and leaders alike unite in common goals and collectively support their unique work culture. They also feature their company values to attract top talent as one of the careers page best practices.
2. Gather employee feedback and act on it: Employee suggestions for company improvement and employee survey insights are invaluable resources that enable leaders to focus efforts where they are needed most while at the same time making employees feel heard and respected.
3. Integrate technology into the workplace to facilitate communication: Utilize innovative technology to make collaboration and project management straightforward and seamless whenever possible – your employees and managers will thank you!
4. Build team relationships and trust: Encourage team-building exercises and ensure management provides clear and timely communication to build trust and make certain everyone is on the same page. Listen to employee suggestions for company improvement to encourage open and honest communication.
5. Create an internal mentoring program: Employees are more than just a workforce, they are an investment that can add to the dynamics of your organization’s success. Empower your employees with opportunities to learn and grow with consistent support from management.
6. Identify ways to celebrate team achievements: While you may be working toward specific goals, don’t forget to celebrate success along the way too! Top Workplaces let their employees know their efforts are making a difference and that they are appreciated.
Share your company culture with the nation. Nominate your company for a Top Workplace award.
