Like major organisations, small company culture is just as valuable to a burgeoning venture. However, it can be something of an elusive subject and challenging to implement. Potentially changing direction can be tricky for any business, and there may even be a significant financial burden. Yet the results yielded from a shift in workplace practices and policies have the potential to transform creativity, motivation and productivity. Intrigued? Here are some suggestions.
Create a Cohesive Team
A cohesive team is critical to a harmonious workplace environment. As a small business, you actually have an advantage as small teams are easier to manage, and there is less likelihood of professional clashes. Now, we all know that nothing unites the team like a personalised hoodie. So, this is a great first step to introducing casual Friday and office events. But it also helps to curate an expert team that understands their individual roles and contributions to the whole.
Define Small Company Culture Values
Most companies begin a journey of company culture with values. However, 60% of small businesses fail within the first year, and a lack of a clear vision and goals is one of the top reasons. So, as a good first start, consider some of these when defining a mission statement:
- Reflect on the core vision of the work you do beyond making money.
- Ask what kind of workplace you want to create and how it will benefit employees.
- Assess your leadership style and whether it meets the criteria for business goals.
Reward Employees for Good Work
When you have the right team in place, they will work hard and deliver results. These should always be rewarded, and it doesn’t matter what the contribution is. There are workers who deliver excellent project results. However, there are also staff members who are excellent at keeping up morale in the office. It is recommended that everyone who contributes in a positive manner be rewarded. From a cheeky chocolate bar to cash bonuses, nothing is off the table.
Offer a Degree of Workplace Flexibility
Everyone’s life is different, and there will be employees who have genuine struggles in their personal lives. Draconian enforcement of rules and policies only adds to the frustration felt by some of the staff. Flexibility is a tried and tested method of keeping employees engaged, happy and productive. For example, you could allow workers with young children to start work at 10 am instead of the standard 9 am, and leave a little earlier to make a hard life that little bit easier.
Strong Small Company Culture with Encouragement
A small business, whether micro or scaling, still relies on happy employees as much as a Fortune 500 company. With data, you can gauge the signs your blog is successful. However, a happy small company culture relies on encouraging your employees to be motivated.
Say thank you as often as possible
A survey by People Management found that 64% of workers feel undervalued. Yet, it is surprising how much you can help an employee feel appreciated by simply thanking them for their work.
Create a professional but fun environment
A place of work must be just that. But that doesn’t mean it has to be dull and draconian! An inviting space with a friendly atmosphere can be just what staff need to stay positive at work.
Listen to ideas and concerns
Employees will always have concerns about work conditions and safety. You can provide positive encouragement by taking on these issues and working on solutions with the team.
No worker should feel like they are ignored or hate their job. Small encouragement can help your staff feel like they belong and motivate them to do a better job. And all it takes is something as simple as a “thank you” to put a smile on the face of most workers at any office.
Provide Growth Opportunities
No one likes the idea of being stuck in the same position forever. Of course, not every work role has future prospects. As a caring and responsible employer, you can offer growth opportunities for your employees. Skills and job training, college sponsorship and internal training are common companies. However, these aren’t always fiscally available. Yet even something like professional development courses can help an employee find value in their current work.
Organise Regular Social Events
Teams work better when they get along. And one of the easiest ways to encourage this is by getting to know each other. Social events with your teams can be a massive boost to morale and break the ice in an otherwise rigid work environment. Team-building exercises are pretty common these days. But it also helps to let loose a little. Fun activities such as trips to a theme park, visiting a local bowling alley, or team-based nature activities help form attachments.
Small Company Culture DEI Initiatives
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are controversial. Yet around 55% of small businesses implement some form of DEI initiative. There are benefits to these programs when they are operated properly and with absolute fairness for all employees at your business:
- Conduct anonymous workplace surveys so employees can raise any concerns.
- Encourage open communication and include everyone in decision-making processes.
- Set and measure DEI goals with metrics and KPIs, using data to influence policies.
Ask for and Use Internal Feedback
Hearing opinions from the horse’s mouth provides invaluable insights into how your employees really feel about working at the company. Whether anonymous or not, you can ask for feedback about the business. This could include how employees feel about specific things. For example, you can ask if they feel management does a good job or voice health and safety concerns. Of course, employee feedback should be taken into consideration when making changes.
Summary
Creating a team that works well together is a good first step towards a healthy small company culture. It also helps to encourage employees and guide them in the right direction. Feedback is also pretty powerful, and you can use data from workers to make actionable decisions later on.
Featured Image by Diva Plavalaguna.
