If you’re like us at Proactive, you spend the bulk of your day at work. It’s only natural that we want our workspace to be a positive place to be—a space where we can learn and grow as individuals, as well as collaborate with others toward a common goal. Studies show that a positive work culture is an important factor for 46% of job seekers. But how do you ensure that your office culture is productive and collaborative? Below are seven ways to help create an environment at work where employees feel supported, appreciated, and valued:
1. Develop a Clear Company Mission and Vision
Your company’s mission statement lays the foundation for everything the company does. In fact, according to a recent study, 77% of UK adults say they would consider a company’s mission and purpose before applying for a job. A clear mission statement defines your organisation’s reason for existing and serves as a compass when deciding what projects to take on, what changes to make in response to new information or trends, and how you want employees to feel about their work.
A good mission statement should include these four components:
- Purpose: What problem are you trying to solve? Why does it matter?
- Mission: How will you go about solving that problem? What steps will lead you there?
- Vision: Where do you see yourself going with this project or initiative in one, five, or ten years from now?
- Values: What principles guide your choices about how best to execute your mission
2. Encourage & Appreciate Employees
If you want to make sure your employees are happy at work, it’s important to recognise them when they do something great! For example: if an employee figures out how to solve a problem that has been hindering productivity, or if they take extra initiative in learning new skills then give them praise.
It’s easy for people who work hard every day to become discouraged because of unfulfilling aspects of their jobs—this is why it’s so important for employers to show appreciation towards their employees whenever possible. This was confirmed by a study showing that 69% of employees work harder when they feel as if their efforts are being recognised. Along with this, if you give your employees the opportunity to learn and grow, encourage them to take on new challenges and provide them with a sense of purpose, you’re on the road to creating a positive work culture.
3. Have Fun at Work
Be creative. There are so many ways to have fun at work.
Here at Proactive Personnel, we regularly hold in-branch events, like the Queen’s Jubilee tea party, or ‘Wear Red’ day for Comic Relief. We also have a big annual Christmas celebration where we all come together as one big Proactive family. This gives us all a way to connect and build better friendships across our branch locations. Holding these types of events can keep morale high and strengthen relationships between colleagues who’ve been working together for years and still may not know each other well.
4. Give Employees Room to Grow
Being able to grow your skills and confidence is important for any employee, but it’s especially crucial for Gen Z and millennials, who are likely to be more mobile and less loyal than older employees.
According to a study, 90% of millennials have stated that they’re looking to grow their careers within their current companies. That doesn’t mean you can’t build a positive culture with older employees; they just need different things from their employers than younger workers do. For example, you can give your employees space to be able to experiment with new ideas and learn from their mistakes along the way, and also allow time off to study or attend conferences that will help them further develop their careers.
5. Create Opportunities to Socialise with Co-workers Outside of the Office
People who work together should be able to get along with each other. Socialising helps break down barriers and gives people the chance to get to know each other outside of work.
Take advantage of opportunities for socialisation, whether it’s a happy hour after work or an office picnic during lunch. Encourage your employees to make the most of these events by bringing their families or significant others so they can get to know one another on a personal level, too.
6. Identify Employee Roadblocks and Provide Solutions
The most effective way to create a positive work culture is to listen to your employees. Asking for feedback and understanding their problems will help you provide solutions. You should also track progress and evaluate results.
Anonymous employee satisfaction surveys are a great way to gather honest feedback. Using questionnaire technology such as SurveyMonkey or similar can provide excellent insights into the mind-set of your employees and help you make adjustments where needed.
7. Be Open to New Ideas
It’s important to be open to new ideas and not afraid to try something different, even if it doesn’t work out.
If you’re the boss, it’s your job to encourage creativity and suggest innovative solutions that will improve the work environment. If you’re not the boss, it’s still your responsibility as an employee of the company/team/group/etc. to provide positive input for others’ ideas—and make sure they know how much their contributions are appreciated.
You should never be afraid to admit when things don’t go exactly as planned or when you make mistakes (because everyone does). Instead, use those moments as opportunities for learning about yourself and other people in your organisation.
Working Doesn’t Have to be Boring or Stressful All the Time
Work isn’t just a place where you go to earn money. It’s also a place where you can have fun, grow, and be yourself.
In fact, employers that have a truly open and inclusive culture will help to encourage people to bring their whole selves to work. The world is full of people who are constantly judged on their appearance or personality. In an inclusive, fun and embracing environment, if employees can feel free to express themselves without worrying about what people think, they are likely to work harder, be more productive and remain loyal.
In short, the workplace should be somewhere everyone can express themselves whilst doing their best work. It should be fun, rewarding and fulfilling. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel (or even have a wheel) when creating a positive work culture. Just follow these seven ways to make your organisation more positive, productive and happy.