Article Contributed by Monique Craig
According to eBullpen, LLC, 46% of newly hired employees leave the workplace within one year of signing an employment contract. Deloitte shows that 50% of all the employees are actively looking for another job. These alarming statistics, put together by Strategic Diagnostics, should make every manager wonder what can be done to keep well trained employees within the company. An inspiring corporate culture has a stupendous power to attract and retain valuable personnel. It can instill well-being in employees and their managers, and make the office a better place to work in. Read on to learn how to build an inspiring company culture from scratch with the use of six effective strategies.
- Choose the components of corporate culture
It is crucial to remember that an inspiring company culture is a sum of real events, actions and their consequences, and the way they are dealt with. It is not an obsolete codex of behaviour. Think about it rather as a set of values and traditions your company stands by. With that in mind, the first step every manager should take is to decide which elements of company’s work cycle will best define its organizational culture. Creating and managing an inspiring culture can act as a safe cushion to boost team spirit when times get tough.
- Inspire friendly rivalry
Whether you are planning to boost performance, strengthen motivation, or instil happiness, establishing an inspiring company culture is the best way to go. It is important to foster the environment, where friendly competition leads the way to company’s development. A competitive organizational culture determines the levels of engagement in employees and encourages committed individuals to bring more business to the firm.
- Rethink your approach to mistakes
Errors of judgements are inevitable in any line of business. Business Insider describes how the mistakes of the most important CEOs, CTOs, and VPs have shaped their professional careers. It shows that mistakes should be seen as valuable lessons, not a punishable offences. A positive corporate culture should, therefore, be recognized by the way it treats mistakes. As Bill Clinton used to say, ‘it is how you handle adversity, not how it affects you’.
- Establish office traditions
A positive company culture is an engine which can transform any workplace past all recognition. An unorthodox approach of Google, as described by International Business Times, proves that an inspiring organizational culture matters more than a steady paycheck. There are many ways to create a sense of community and build a supportive team. Office employees should be able to get together to engage in extracurricular activities, such as playing a fantasy league game, taking up volleyball, or discussing thrillers at book club meetings.
- Show appreciation
Forbes quotes a recent study by Accenture which shows that as much as 35% of employees leave the company due to unfair internal arrangements, and 43% are dissatisfied with constant lack of recognition and other company culture related failures. Appreciation and respect are the most important motivators for any employee, therefore, it is crucial to recognize achievements and reward proactive behaviour. Asking for employees’ feedback is another effective way to show respect, so do not hesitate to include team members in the decision-making processes.
- Lead by example
Visionary leaders have the charisma to create a ‘can-do’ attitude in the company. They also have the communal responsibility to inspire employees to transgress their limitations. Forget closed-door policy, which creates a clear division into ‘us’ and ‘them’ and supports an outdated atmosphere of fear and intimidation. Instead, influence, inspire and share your enthusiasm with the team.
A company culture derives from everything that happens in a workplace. Good things strengthen the morale, whereas bad make the employees and managers rethink their choices. With the help of these tactics you will be able to build an organizational culture with confidence and determination, and inspire actions that will contribute to greater performance and engagement of your devoted employees.
Monique Craig is an Australian blogger and marketing specialist who works for Oneflare, an online marketplace which connects customers with local service providers.