There is no doubt that even though pay rates are rising and employers offer perks and employee benefits as a standard part of the compensation package, company culture is an essential factor when it comes to attracting and retaining top talent.
Company culture isn’t just “fluff.” Vision, values, philosophy, norms, systems, symbols, language, assumptions, beliefs, habits – these all contribute to company culture. Every company boasts a different culture with unique qualities, although this culture may or may not be the one you want job seekers to associate your company with. Company culture speaks directly to your “employment brand.” To assess your company culture it’s important to become a listener and observer. Look around and ask yourself how do my employees act, what do they do, what do they say?
Creating a company culture takes ongoing and consistent contributions, but these efforts will result in elevated productivity and performance.
So, what defines a great company culture that will sustain employee enthusiasm?
- Establish a Transparent and Open Environment
Trust is essential in creating a positive environment, presenting the workplace as safe and secure. Being transparent and open indicates a welcoming and friendly attitude. - Promote Career Success
Show your employees that you care about their professional development. The best way to engage with talent is by offering experiences that can help make a difference like conferences or continued learning. Take a genuine and authentic interest in their lives. - Provide Incentives
Create a culture that is full of incentives and rewards, both entertaining and professional. Whether it’s knowing that a kitchen full of freshly baked goods awaits them or that they’ll be working on a project they love, incentives are an important part of making the workplace fun. - Support a Team Atmosphere
Teams work together, encourage each other and communicate regularly. It doesn’t matter who gets credit for what because you accomplish everything together. In fact, if people only listen to those who have higher titles, you lose a collaborative environment.
To drive a positive culture into a company, the person at the top needs to embed these values into their everyday actions. This will then allow the rest of the company to immerse themselves and fully develop an atmosphere where they love coming to work.