Creating a positive company culture begins with fostering happy employees. Recent research shows that happy workers are 85 percent more efficient, experience a 60 percent drop in absenteeism and stay twice as long in their jobs as their less satisfied colleagues. This results in measurable improvements in safety, wellness, engagement, retention, employer brand and ultimately, cost control.
Focus on the Positive
When employees are happy, they perform – and treat customers – better. A positive culture instills inspiration and satisfaction. In the long term, it builds loyalty, so talented people not only stick around, but also spread the word to their friends about how great it is to work for you. Here are some guidelines to make this happen:
- Hire smartly. You can lay out a vision, but you need good people who share it with you, in order to make it stick. Most top performers already have jobs, so make sure you offer differentiators such as flex time, competitive compensation and attractive perks. Give multiple people the opportunity to participate in interviews so they can provide input on whether or not a candidate is a good fit.
- Identify culture champions. These are employees who embody your core values and are enthusiastic about spreading your company mission. Empower them to keep your culture alive and well.
- Watch for red flags that may threaten your progress. These are employees who have a strong negative influence on others. Weak managers, or even high producers who have bad attitudes, are only hurting your cause. You need people who can do their jobs and contribute to the culture.
- Listen – and engage people. Ask employees what they like and dislike about their jobs, and what they would suggest be done differently. Then, actively listen to their responses. Focus on their needs, keeping communication consistent, transparent and two-way. Share as much information as possible, both positive and negative. This builds an environment of openness, which bolsters trust and engagement.
- Give recognition when and where it is due. This truly energizes employees. Recognizing even small accomplishments can make a big impact. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture; for instance, send an email or issue a verbal recognition during a team meeting.
- Provide social interaction. Encourage employees to take breaks. Provide them with areas where they can chill out and talk to each other. This is important to boosting both attitudes and concentration. It leads to higher productivity and mental acuity, as well as job satisfaction.
The recruitment experts at PrideStaff Modesto can help ensure you source, hire, retain and develop employees with a constant focus on your positive company culture. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.
