After more than two years, we are still feeling the powerful impact of the pandemic on the workforce. Many employees have chosen to change jobs, disrupting the workforce and leaving employers with limited talent pools.
Remote and hybrid work environments have become standard, forcing companies to adapt to the changing times. And though remote work options may help many people balance work and family, they also contribute to decreased community and connection. This often reduces employee job satisfaction.
For managers, it can feel a little daunting to try to figure out a balance for it all. But, if you can proactively build a work culture that will help you retain your top talent and attract new team members, you can continue to stand out in the crowd.
And let me tell you – it’s worth the investment!
Invest In Workplace Culture
A recent article in Forbes shared that workplace culture is central to your company’s health. It impacts retention, recruitment, productivity, and pretty much every other aspect of your company.
We need to shift from reacting to the changing times and be more proactive. And one thing that you can do to be proactive is to focus on building a positive culture.
Here are some ways to start improving your workplace C-U-L-T-U-R-E now:
- Create your company’s values. People are more likely to be invested in a company that doesn’t just provide good products/services. It must also be one that has good values. Ensure that your work culture authentically matches your values. This builds trust between employees and customers and will also impact your bottom line.
- Use clear expectations and goals. Be clear about what is expected to set employees up for success. Make sure your mission and vision are clear and that the goals you’ve built in are outlined. Transparency is important for employees so they know how to contribute to the overall success of the company.
- Learn from mistakes and own them. It’s important that employees feel safe to express concerns, be creative and innovative, and take risks when solving problems. Leaders and managers can model this by accepting and learning from their mistakes and encouraging others to do the same.
- Thank your employees. Employees that feel valued at work are more motivated to do quality work. Try finding new ways to listen to your staff. You can do this through regular surveys, prioritizing their wellness, keeping an eye on turnover rates, and watching trends in productivity and customer engagement. Develop a culture of gratitude and positive messaging to boost your staff’s morale.
- Unity is key. Building a culture of connection is important. In a company with remote or hybrid staff, it’s even more important to create opportunities for employees to interact and develop healthy workplace relationships. As a result, it will also boost team collaboration and morale.
- Retain your team by investing in their learning and development. An IBM study revealed that employees who don’t feel they are growing in their workplace are 12 times more likely to leave it. Don’t let those be YOUR employees! Find ways to offer continuous learning opportunities, avenues for growth and development, and coaching to build your team’s skills. Investment in your team will pay off.
- Empower your employees. Remember the 5-E Formula: “Empowered Employees Equal Engaged Employees.” To build a team capable and ready to lift your organization to the next level, you need to keep them involved, engaged, and growing.
And investing in your team is the best single way to do that.
Invest in Employee Continuous Learning and Development
Investing in the growth and development of your employees is certainly great for them, but don’t forget, it also has a long list of benefits for YOU:
- It will increase retention. According to the Work Institute’s 2021 Retention Report, a common reason for employee turnover was a lack of opportunities for growth. So, investing in employee development generates enthusiasm and innovation, improves morale and often keeps employees loyal through challenging times.
- It will improve your recruitment. A positive workplace will put your company ahead of others when potential employees are making decisions about joining your team. One-third of candidates don’t hesitate to pass on a great job opportunity when the culture isn’t a fit.
- It will improve performance. When employees feel happy and valued for being invested in, the quality and quantity of work both improve.
The take-away: don’t wait!
Be proactive and improve your workplace culture now. Don’t wait until your bottom line is the tell-tale sign; invest in your team NOW, and you will see big dividends.
Your employees want to GROW BIG OR GO HOME!