Company culture: How do you make your business the perfect place to work?
If you're not seriously considering creating a corporate culture in which people feel valued, your business may be lagging behind. Seven Tips to Make Your Workplace So Great Follow us:
1. Beyond the traditional 9-18
The traditional 9 to 18 hour working hours do not suit everyone. Depending on the industry, customers can expect business to be open 24/7. As a business owner, you must acknowledge that your employees are human, can be students, can have families, and may have other responsibilities. By being more flexible with working hours and scheduling, you can improve your work-life balance, thereby increasing interaction and employee satisfaction.
Allowing employees to have a life of their own and trusting that they will do their job at the same time is a great way to show confidence in their abilities. Start with a flexible working hours policy. If this creates some barrier to day-to-day operations, you can adjust your policy accordingly.
2. Maintain open lines of communication
It is important to create an open environment in which your employees feel comfortable and express themselves. You can achieve this with weekly meetings, and anonymous polls. Do your best to make your employees feel comfortable dealing with any questions or concerns, and remember that open lines are essential to creating a positive team environment.
3. Allow working from home
Another way to show flexibility and create a positive culture is to allow employees to work from home, whether that happens or on a regular basis. Everyone has days when he has to take care of family and personal affairs.
4. Create a conscientious task
Companies like Apple have redefined what it means to have a purpose in business. The late Steve Jobs spoke frequently with employees about changing the world through the company's work. Even though your company isn't Apple, you still need to make sure you're helping your employees understand the importance of the work they do every day. You should continue to "tell the story" by helping your employees feel they are part of something bigger.
5. Provide room for growth
If your business is small and doesn't have much room for promotion, you can still provide opportunities for employee development and growth. While discussing regularly with your employees, pay attention to their personal and professional goals, noting areas where there may be some skill gaps. Look for projects and tasks that give employees the opportunity to develop and practice skills they can't use every day.
6. Offer paid sick leave
Small business owners should do their best to attract and retain qualified employees. One way to do this is by providing benefits and paid sick leave. Gone are the days of having to choose between a job or a lost day's pay long ago, and employees might resent your company if you run it that way.
7. Excellence Award
When an employee provides exceptional work that drives business and revenue for your company, you may want to consider giving them a reward or tangible reward for their efforts. If your budget includes bonuses, spell out this policy in your employment contract. When your employees reach certain milestones and goals, be sure to find those employees among all employees. This helps in maintaining friendly competition while retaining high-ranking employees.
Small business owners should fully consider their own company culture. These days, prioritizing employee engagement can be a critical factor in a business.