Implementing a positive company culture has a great many benefits to a business, but how can you do this? Find out here…

As a business owner, I have no doubt that your main priority will be to turn over a profit. The problem is, so many CEOs get so bogged down with this short-term goal, that they neglect the bigger picture.

The reality is that any company owner who purely focuses on monetary goals will only fail. There’s so much more to being a leader, not least implementing a strong and positive company culture. Not only does this help to attract and retain brilliant employees in the long run, it’ll create a loyal, hardworking, and productive workforce that gets results.

With this in mind, how can you create a culture which delivers these amazing results? In this article, we’ll be taking you through 10 easy ways to do just that.

1. Consider Employee Ownership

Firstly, employee ownership is a great way to improve company culture, but how? Let’s take a little look at employee ownership explained…

Employee ownership is exactly as it sounds – it’s an initiative which provides employees with the opportunity to invest in shares in the business. This can be done in a number of ways, but basically means that employees have a financial stake in the company.

This has many benefits, not least creating a team spirit that is second to none. Essentially, it provides employees with a monetary incentive to work really hard, as the better the results the greater their pay-out.

To add to this, shareholders are required to have meetings to discuss the future of the business. If employees have a stake, they will be welcome at these meetings, and can have a say in how the company is run. This helps to improve transparency throughout the company, keeping communication lines open, and ensuring everyone feels like part of the team.

2. Hire Based on Attitude

Although it might seem like a no-brainer to hire someone with all the relevant experience required for a job, this can sometimes backfire. After all, with all the experience already up their sleeves, they may have no desire to improve themselves.

What’s more, even if they have the experience, it doesn’t mean they will get along with the team. Being part of a team of likeminded people who have similar goals is all part and parcel of creating a great place to work. If one person doesn’t fit, it may make everyone’s time at work undesirable.

So, when it comes to the hiring process, don’t simply take into account their list of experience; prioritise their attitude! Do they have a hunger to learn, do they have an eager attitude, are they hard working, is their personality fitting? These are all questions you should be considering to build a group of employees who will do great things for the company.

3. Don’t Judge Effort by Attendance

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, way back in March 2020, it’s become clear to us all that permanent office working is a thing of the past. Not only are workforces thriving with all employees working from the comfort of their homes, productivity may even be increasing for some.

Ultimately, it’s proven to us all that the outdated concept of showing your face and dressing smartly equating to hard work is completely fabricated. Employees can do their work just as good, if not better, from their home offices. By acknowledging this, and maintaining this attitude even after COVID-19, you’ll create a workplace that measures success on achievements, not attendance.

4. Be Honest and Open

We’ve touched on this a little already with our employee ownership point, but this deserves a point all of its own. Being open about how the company is doing and the ways it’s run is a great way to boost company culture for many reasons.

Firstly, this enables the team to band together during tough times to come up with intelligent solutions to problems. It also means the team are aware if the company is in dire trouble, so they can prepare for potential redundancies.

Not only this, but a culture of honesty builds trust in the employer, which can only be a good thing. Mutual trust between employees and their bosses is a sure-fire way to maintain job satisfaction and loyalty.

5. Trust Your Employees to Do Their Job

Speaking of trust, you need to make it clear that you trust employees to do their job, and do it well, without constantly being observed. You can create this trusting relationship in a number of ways, including:

• Not micro-managing, meaning not checking up on everything they’re doing constantly.
• Not basing success on hours worked, but on results.
• Handing them the reins in terms of the way they work.
• Don’t make them feel bad for coming in late or heading to the doctors; we all have lives outside of work, so trust that they will complete their tasks on time.

The list truly goes on. Ultimately, it’s about giving them the power to control their workload, the ways they work, and their working hours.

6. Treat Your Employees

Treating your employees here and there, in small ways, can be a great way to improve company culture. This is because it demonstrates to them that they are valuable and wanted, helping to motivate them to continue their excellent work. Some of the many ways you could do this include:

• Supplying their office snacks and drinks.
• Getting on the cycle-to-work scheme.
• Provide them with Christmas bonus’.
• Send them little treats if they’re working from home, like chocolate.

Although these little things may seem like a waste of money, small investments like this will work wonders for implementing a culture of appreciation. With this, productivity and success are sure to follow.

7. Consider Flexible Working

The pandemic has, again, shown us that a great worker doesn’t equate with working the usual 9 ‘til 5. We all have responsibilities, like children, outside of work, which sometimes need our attention more so than our jobs. By providing staff with the opportunity to make up their hours as and when they need to, you show them that you trust them to get the job done.

8. Invest in Appropriate Software

In a similar way to treating your employees, you should also make sure to invest in their work by giving them the software and tools to do it properly. This will help them to do their job efficiently and in good time. It’ll also demonstrate to them that their role is worth investing in.

9. Invest in Employee Training

Similarly, paying for your employees to head on training days and virtual sessions is another great way to implement a great culture. Firstly, this shows that you care, and that you’re willing to put the time and money into their self-improvement. It shows them that they are a long-term investment as part of the company, keeping them loyal.

What’s more, it also allows them to level-up their skills, which can never be a bad thing. After all, better skills mean more success for the business.

10. Organise Social Events

Finally, don’t forget to organise social events, even in the age of virtual meet-ups! Some ideas could include:

• Quizzes
• Virtual drinks
• Game nights
• End of year awards
• Christmas parties
• Summer parties

Again, this is a way to show your employees how much their hard work means to you and your company. It’ll also allow them to forge real connections with their colleagues, creating a culture of friendship along the way.

Think Improving Your Company Culture is Your Next Step?

In this article, we’ve proven to you why creating a great company culture is important. We’ve also shown you 10 ways to do just that, so you can create a workforce that is hard-working, productive, friendly and fun.

We hope this article has given you some insight into why this is important, and some easy ideas to start the process. Good luck with creating a culture that works for you, your employees, and your company.