What Factors Create A Positive Workplace Culture?

People say that the best jobs are the ones you enjoy and make you happy. Sure, that's true, but sometimes, even the things you love can become boring and dull. This is an important factor to consider if you're running a business, as your employees may find themselves demotivated and sometimes unhappy with the job they have. 

So, with that in mind, what should you do to create a more positive workplace? 
By creating a positive workplace culture!

What Exactly Is A Workplace Culture?

Workplace culture can be defined as all the different elements that make up a working environment. It's like a company's personality.

Workplace culture is made up of elements like the policies, procedures, norms and values that guide working practices. All of these elements work together to create a healthy workplace that benefits everyone in the organisation.

What Affects A Company's Workplace Culture?

To get a better understanding of workplace culture, we must first delve into what affects it. Here are a few factors that come into play when it comes to creating a positive workplace culture.

1. Core Values

Have you been wondering what the buzz is about "core values" for the past few years? Well, you're not alone. Companies are discovering that having core values is an important piece of their company identity.

Let's start from the beginning. A core value is something that is at the foundation of your company's identity. It's a core belief that your company holds onto. These values are what keep your company competitive and in the game. By understanding and having a solid core set of values, you can create a workplace culture that is based on these values.

2. Company Culture

Positive workplace cultures are created by understanding the needs and wants of the workers, what they enjoy, and what they prefer. Workplace culture is a reflection of the company's core values.

Culture is the set of practices and behaviours reflective of the environment of the workplace. An employee's experience at work is an example of a business' workplace culture.

3. Receptivity

If you have a negative workplace culture and then you force it on your employees, they're not going to accept it. Instead, they're going to resist it, and, ultimately, they're going to resist your company's core values.

What Factors Create A Positive Workplace Culture?

If you want your workplace to have great employee experiences, you have to make sure that it has a good company culture. It's not easy to get started with a new culture, especially if your company culture is the cause of discontent among your employees.

However, it's not impossible to do. Some key factors can definitely affect your workplace in a positive way and make it more enjoyable for everyone!

These include:

1. Teamwork

Teamwork is one of the most important factors in positive workplace culture. It is actually responsible for the success of your company and can be the main reason why your company is profitable. Therefore, good culture correlates with a productive and efficient organisation.

However, just because your employees are working together doesn't mean that you should take their teamwork for granted. There's a lot that goes into teamwork, such as the ability to communicate effectively and to work together towards organisational objectives. 

2. Identity

Identity is an important element that can influence your company. As a result of its impact, it can also influence your workplace culture. It's good to use your company's identity to strengthen your company brand. Ultimately, it will positively affect the way your employees view your company and the way they view themselves.

If a company's identity is strong, it can provide the foundation needed for a company culture that is dynamic and unique.

3. Dynamic

It is important to note that companies that value dynamism is progressive and forward-thinking. This is why it is essential to have a company culture that is also dynamic and forward-thinking.

A company culture that is not dynamic may seem like it's stuck in the past. Generally, it won't lag behind the competition, and it won't keep up with the changing times.

4. Responsible Leadership

Good leadership is important for positive workplace culture. When the leaders of your company are responsible for how they act, it speaks volumes about their morals and even about the company's values. 

Without responsible leadership, it is not possible to have a positive workplace culture.

5. Rapport

In a positive workplace culture, the rapport between your employees is important. If their rapport is good, it means that they can communicate well, they can work together effectively, and they can make decisions based on common ground.

Rapport between employees is not just helpful for your business; it is also helpful for them as individuals. Good rapport can help them develop their skills, and it can also help them grow and develop as individuals.

6. Wellness

Wellness is a pretty broad topic, so we will not go into too much detail. However, the bottom line is that a healthy lifestyle is important for positive workplace culture. Employees who lead a healthy lifestyle tend to be more engaged in their work. They are more productive, and they are more likely to show up on time.

7. Authenticity

In a positive workplace culture, employees can be themselves. They are not afraid to express who they truly are or to feel comfortable with themselves. If they feel that they need to act a certain way just to fit in, then they will have a negative experience.

Authenticity inspires loyalty and engagement, it is important to be yourself at work. Adopt a casual environment where employees can open up and feel more like themselves and less like an employee.

Conclusion

Overall, positive workplace culture is a must to survive, especially during times where employees have so much choice for employment and organisations struggle to retain talent. Investing in culture improvements will bring about immense value to your company. It can help you build a strong reputation in the marketplace and increase the value of your brand, it will motivate your employees to work harder and ultimately improve your company's performance. So, if you feel like your workplace culture could do better, don't wait around. 

Stuart Andrews offers leadership coaching to support business leaders and executives in running companies with high-performing teams. If you are looking for an executive coach, get in touch with us today! In addition, check out my book and see how you can improve as a leader.