When it comes to successfully running a small business, you know that you need to do everything you can to stand out from the crowd. This means establishing a strong brand identity, a stellar reputation, and a vibrant company culture.
Your company culture is defined by the everyday values, expectations, attitudes, and interactions at your business. By taking the time to nurture it, you can create a collaborative, dynamic environment that brings your employees closer together and inspires them to do their best.
In this article, we’ll walk through three transformative tips for improving your company culture so you can set your business on the path to higher performance, employee engagement, and growth.
1. Promote employee well-being and work-life balance.
No business is free from stress, tight deadlines, or the occasionally heavy workload. To maintain productivity and motivation among your employees, take steps to look after their well-being and encourage a healthy work-life balance. For instance, you can:
Remind employees to take breaks throughout the day and use their paid time off.
Offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that supports employees in managing personal issues or concerns.
Encourage remote or hybrid employees to set strict work-life boundaries, such as creating a dedicated workspace at home.
Add healthy resources to the workplace, such as standing desks and nutritious snacks.
Additionally, you can make employees feel more supported and connected to their peers by planning company events or affinity group activities outside of work hours. For example, if you know that many of your employees are Christian and avid readers, you might launch a monthly book club that covers Christian books related to family, spiritual growth, and other topics relevant to your participants.
2. Support employees who want to make a difference in their community.
Beyond providing high-quality products or services to your customers, there are so many ways your business can make a meaningful difference in the world. By embracing these opportunities you can become a force for social good in your community and access a host of other benefits. According to Uncommon Giving’s workplace giving guide, developing workplace giving programs can help you attract top talent, engage employees, and enhance your reputation.
Several popular types of programs to consider include:
Matching gifts. When employees donate to charitable causes, your business will match their donation amount, typically at a 1:1 ratio.
Volunteer grants. For those of your employees who volunteer regularly with a nonprofit, your business will donate to that organization after they’ve contributed a predetermined number of hours there.
Corporate volunteering. Your business can broadcast community volunteering opportunities to employees and even organize team-wide volunteer events.
Payroll deductions. You can allow employees to automatically deduct a portion of their paycheck to donate to a nonprofit of their choice.
At the same time, remember that you don’t have to go all out with your workplace giving programs immediately. Take small steps toward greater impact by setting specific goals that align with your values, adopting workplace giving tools to streamline program management, and focusing on the causes that your employees are most interested in.
3. Establish opportunities for frequent recognition.
At your small business, every employee is an integral contributor to your long-term success. To keep them feeling invested and fulfilled in their roles, it’s important to show them just how much they mean to your business.
eCardWidget’s employee appreciation guide recommends incorporating these ideas into your recognition strategy:
eCards. Design branded eCards that employees can send, along with a personalized message, to express appreciation to their peers. You can go beyond simple thank-you eCards by creating options for wishing a happy birthday, embodying one of your business’s values, and more.
Branded merchandise. By gifting employees a branded t-shirt or hat, you can present them with something tangible that reminds them of how much you value them. Plus, when they wear your branded items in public, they can provide a little extra marketing for your business.
Appreciation events. Whether you decide to throw a party on National Employee Appreciation Day or plan an outing after a recent accomplishment at your business, hosting an event can build a sense of community and cohesion among your employees.
In addition to thanking your employees, be sure to collect their input as well. Send out a survey every quarter or half a year to gather feedback on their experiences. By making your employees feel heard and acting on their suggestions, you can boost efficiency and growth at your business.
Building and maintaining a strong company culture is an ongoing process. By adopting an improvement mindset, equipping strategic tools like corporate giving software, and listening to your employees, you’ll be able to nurture a thriving community of enthusiastic employees at your business.
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