Protecting Business Interests While Fostering a Positive Workplace Culture

A positive workplace culture can help a company thrive. Avoiding drama allows employees to focus on the tasks necessary to spur growth. Finding the right mix between a supportive work environment and protecting corporate interests is complex.

Businesses sometimes struggle to maintain a happy atmosphere without falling into the trap of having so much fun that no work gets done. Explore a few solutions that can make the work environment a place that encourages people to do their best.

Why a Positive Workplace Culture Matters

In a study sponsored by Islam Riau and Indonesia Universities, researchers looked at whether performance was impacted by workplace satisfaction. They found there is a direct and significant correlation between culture, satisfaction and performance.

The benefits of a positive workplace are paramount. People are happier and less likely to leave. When they feel supported, they’re more likely to try new ideas, which lead to higher profits for the brand and cutting-edge new products and services. The right mix of attitudes also lends itself to collaboration, as teams are less likely to feel overwhelmed and more likely to ask their peers for help. Departments work together to accomplish common goals and deliver results for the business and customers.

Tips to Create a Stellar Company Culture

Defining what makes an excellent company culture is challenging because what works for one enterprise may not work for another. The unique mix of personalities and tasks each organization brings to the table means the inner workings of each vary.

Even hiring someone new can change things for better or worse. Fortunately, a few things will make a business’s culture more positive, which benefits everyone.

Transparent Communication

Ambiguous language or having different rules for various teams leads to confusion and frustration. Workers may feel uncertain about what they can do. Stress and feeling on edge result from being unsure if they will receive disciplinary action for doing the same thing another staff member does.

Open up the lines of communication with an open-door policy. Leadership should take employees to lunch for one-on-one discussions about concerns. Listening without judging or bringing harsh consequences is key. Management should ask how they can fix problems and improve relationships between them and workers.

Ethical Leadership

Ethical leaders understand they should treat people the way they’d like to be treated. Treating staff as corporate property creates tension and will lead to high churn rates.

Reconsider practices such as noncompete clauses, which can hamper workers’ ability to move to another job in the sector or area. Employers also must be careful not to create a false positive culture that is upbeat and sickeningly sweet but plays favorites or gives backhanded compliments that destroy morale underneath.

Inclusive Policies

Ideally, all will feel welcome and respected in a company culture. Following ideas such as using the person’s preferred pronouns and hiring based on skills rather than who the person knows or their personality help build a diverse workforce. Every organization should have policies about how to handle disagreements and training on how to respect workers from other cultures, countries, and backgrounds.

How to Protect Company Interests

Although a positive culture can spur growth, businesses must also protect themselves from being taken advantage of. Some of the strategies they can implement include:

• Following industry regulations and federal laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act. Adherence to such regulations avoids legal consequences, potential fines and hurt employees.
• Reviewing contracts and handbooks regularly.
• Keeping data secure through cybersecurity trainings that become second nature.

Most of the time, treating people well and considering their viewpoint protects the business also. However, when conflicts arise, take the time to brainstorm ideas and find a middle ground that works for staff and the enterprise’s bottom line.

Aligning Company Culture With Core Values

Organizations with a clear mission statement and understanding of their core values are more likely to create a welcoming company culture. As new people get hired and others leave, the overall mood of the staff will change. Leadership can ensure it remains positive by regularly reviewing how workers feel and ensuring they’re appreciated for what they bring to the workplace.