Business.com
If your business is a revolving door for employees, it’s probably not the pay or the customers. You might just have an issue with your company’s culture.
Creating a positive work environment means having realistic expectations not just for your staff, but also for yourself as a boss. Expecting your employees to fake it until they make it simply won’t cut it. A manager shouldn’t have to ask their staff to fake enthusiasm. Instead, try building a company culture that makes coworkers want to come to work and shine because they are treated honestly and respectfully.
Management sets the tone
Building an ideal company culture where coworkers feel nurtured and strive for greater productivity is achievable. The key is recognizing that individuals have unique needs and personality types and by meeting those needs you foster a sense of belonging, loyalty, and trust.
Here are seven steps toward nurturing a positive work environment:
1. Listen to your coworkers
Listening to what your staff has to say shows them that you respect them and their opinions. Asking them to share ideas and contribute makes coworkers feel like valued members of a team.
2. Open your door and be accessible
A closed door cuts off communication. An open door lets employees know that you are available to them and that they can come to you with ideas and issues. But, don’t just stay in your office waiting for staff to come to you. Stop by their desks and ask for updates and feedback on tasks.
3. Make employee evaluations candid and open
Staff evaluations are critical to the morale of the workplace. If performance evaluations are not something your company does regularly, this is a good time to start, because it allows you to be more in-tune with your coworkers. Fifty-two percent of global leaders reported that new hire performance evaluations to be the most common way companies measure quality.
Performance evaluations can be a daunting and often emotional task for both the staff member and the manager, so avoid the drama by exhibiting a willingness to speak freely and to actively listen. That lets your coworker know that they can do the same.
4. Build a foundation of trust
It may be a bit cliché, but trust in the workplace is the foundation for success. Never allow gossip and infighting to be the norm in the office. Instead, foster relationships in which coworkers feel you are discreet and supportive. This builds loyalty to you and the company.
5. Improve your employer brand
A company’s reputation is sacred, volatile, and ever so transparent nowadays. Which is why companies are investing more time into improving their employer brand. This not only builds comradery between employees, but also makes your company appealing to both customers and future recruitments.
According to LinkedIn’s 2015 Global Recruiting Trends report, 56 percent of global talent leaders say employer brand is a top priority for their company. Improve employee retention by recognizing excellence, providing opportunities for career advancement, offering continuing education and holding everyone accountable accordingly for their work. Improve customer retention by going above and beyond, keeping an open line of communication, building trust and setting realistic expectations.
6. Don’t micromanage
Nobody likes the micromanager, so get in a mindset of being collaborative. It is okay to maintain high expectations and to offer constructive criticism, but let your staff do their jobs. Being overly critical only damages the trust and loyalty you are striving to foster.
7. Create team spirit
It should not be necessary to force the staff to attend survival camp in order to build team spirit. It can be as easy as offering praise and recognition for a coworker after she finishes a large project, or giving credit to another for completing a task. Simply saying thank you can go a long way.
8. Let the light shine in
Finally, keeping the workplace clean and attractive promotes a positive attitude. Arrange the office to allow for more natural light, and encourage your people to personalize their workspace with family photos.
It’s the little things that often makes the workplace more pleasant and builds staff morale.
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