Have you ever wondered how your employees feel every morning before they go to work? Do they feel discouraged, happy, anxious, motivated, stressed?
Why is organisational culture so important?
Dr Pragya Agarwal, a social psychologist, creative entrepreneur, writer, TEDx speaker, an inclusivity and diversity consultant, and Forbes contributor, believes that a positive workplace culture increases the team’s self-esteem and productivity. In other words, a positive atmosphere at work will reduce stress and allow people to perform to the best of their abilities.
Tech giants such as Facebook, Google and Microsoft know how much the state of mind of one’s employees can impact their work and productivity, so for years, they have been allocating considerable resources into creating “feel good” experiences to their employees, who undoubtedly spend most of their time at work. It’s a no brainer: happy and relaxed people work harder and work better.
The positive workplace culture guide
1- Have strong values and work on your storytelling
- Leadership style plays a huge part in creating a positive workplace. Transparency, open communication and incentive for working as a team are vital factors when building a trust line with your employees.
- One on one and team meetings are also essential to touch base, give and receive feedback – don’t skip them.
- Finally – and of extreme importance – create a workplace that is safe for everyone. Discrimination, assault, bullying, and any kind of violence cannot be tolerated in a workplace that cares for its employees.
The company GreenHouse developed a cool tool to help you map out your core values and achieve a cohesive company culture; check it out.
2- Social interaction is key
Australians are social people, so allow your team to socialise. Company social gatherings are a great way to meet your co-workers from different departments, build relationships with your peers and, well, have fun. Work shouldn’t be just about deadlines and goals; it should also be about being part of a community.
3- Inclusion and diversity are non-negotiable
An inclusive workplace values the difference in people and embraces uniqueness. Diversity enriches a company’s body of work; it provides different points of view and helps dismantle bias. Aim to have a company where people feel welcome for who they are, regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, religion or sexual orientation.
4- Establish rituals
The human race has established rituals for as long as it’s been around. Rituals create a bond and a purpose for a team; they become a shared experience. Make it a rule:
- When a new team member starts working for your company, the department will take them to lunch.
- Pick one day of the month to celebrate everyone who has a birthday that month.
- Create a “board of achievements” in which people can write down the goals and projects they successfully executed.
Anything goes, as long as it is a way to positively reinforce how important it is to have your employee be part of your team.
It’s not rocket science, but it is always good to remember: the success of a company is directly related to the people in it. For further reading on this subject, read the article “Is Your Workplace Human-Friendly?“.
*This article has been translated, edited and adapted by Rani Ghazzaoui Luke.
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If you’d like to read more about design and diversity, check out this article.
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