The pandemic taught us many things. One of the biggest lessons in our workplaces was highlighting what workers value most in and what they are not willing to compromise on when it comes to their employment. It seems as though now more than ever people are looking for more than just a job. They are seeking roles with organisations that provide them with a thriving, positive work culture and a great team environment.
There are many benefits of a strong organisational culture for both employee and employer.
A brilliant workplace culture will:
So, what exactly makes up a positive work culture and what can we do to create one to keep our people engaged, motivated and succeeding? We believe that there are 9 pillars of a great team environment and we’d like to share them with you as well as some practical tips to implement these in your workplace.
Your “why” is a purpose, cause or belief - the reason you and your organisation exist. This is not about what you do or how you do it but why you do it! Importantly, your why is not about making money as that is a result, rather than a reason.
Consider a standing question in your team meeting where everyone answers how they have lived one of the company’s values in the past week? Or alternatively, ask each person to describe where they have seen a co-worker demonstrate one of the company values.
It’s definitely not news that clear and effective communication is integral to a positive working culture. It’s important to remember though, that the judge of whether your communication is clear and effective is the audience and not you as the sender. Are you considering people’s communication preferences when you send out communication? Do you have structure and standards around how you communicate? What about which communication avenues to use and when to use them?
Find out what communication style your people prefer and then communicate in the way that resonates most strongly with them. We love Bernice McCarthy’s 4Mat communication model for a simple and incredibly effective model to structure your communication. Email us on hello@luminateleadership.com.au if you’d like us to send you a quiz to find out the preferred communication style for you and your team.
Generally speaking, all people turn up to work every day wanting to give their best, hoping to succeed and seeking fulfilment. In order for your people to do their best work, they need to know exactly what it is that they are aiming for and what the measures of success are.
Roles and expectations are not a set and forget kind of task. They are an evolving conversation. If yours haven’t been revisited or updated in a while, consider holding a meeting to discuss these and ensure that you involve your team in the conversation so that they have ownership over the standards that are set.
A study by Gallup has found that people who have good workplace relationships are more likely to be engaged at work. Good work relationships are also connected to increased profit and improved productivity. Generally speaking, all people turn up to work every day wanting to give their best, hoping to succeed and seeking fulfilment. In order for your people to do their best work, they need to know exactly what it is that they are aiming for and what the measures of success are.
Consider including time in your regular team meetings for connection activities. This is especially important with remote or hybrid meetings. Share around the responsibility of creating and hosting the connection activity so that it stays fresh and engaging. You can search online for quick and engaging activities that will foster greater connection. We love using conversation cards where you choose a question card at random for you to share your answer with the group, you can find great ones at Kikki K.
A workplace that prioritises the wellbeing of their people is an incredibly sought after workplace in today’s competitive market.
Is anyone on your team a qualified Mental Health First Aider? A range of studies, including randomised controlled trials, have shown that completing Mental Health First Aid training improves knowledge, reduces stigmatising attitudes, and increases first aid actions towards people with mental health problems. Email us at mhfa@luminateleadership.com.au if you’re interested in knowing more about attending any of our MHFA courses.
Even with the increase in hybrid working, it is still very important to consider what our physical workspace is like. A workplace that prioritises the wellbeing of their people is an incredibly sought after workplace in today’s competitive market.
Bring the outdoors in! Studies have shown that simply adding some greenery in the form of indoor plants can have major positive benefits from reducing stress and sickness to boosting creativity and productivity. Don’t neglect the home work environment as well - could you send a small indoor plant home with everyone to help with their work from home space?
It’s no secret that employees who feel valued will do more than what is expected of them. What is important to note here is that what makes one person feel valued and appreciated may not make their team mate feel the same way.
Although we will accept appreciation in all five of the major languages of appreciation, we feel truly valued when the message is communicated through our primary language as it communicates more deeply to us than the others. Bring the outdoors in! Studies have shown that simply adding some greenery in the form of indoor plants can have major positive benefits from reducing stress and sickness to boosting creativity and productivity. Don’t neglect the home work environment as well - could you send a small indoor plant home with everyone to help with their work from home space? Find out which of the 5 Languages of Appreciation in the workplace your people prefer by getting them to complete a short quiz (email us at hello@luminateleadership.com.au for a free copy).
Successful businesses are often successful because the leader is bought into the vision, the goals and the team’s success. Successful teams often occur when employees see and feel that conviction from their leader and are confident that they have collectively set the right course and are equally committed to achieving the goals.
As a leader, remember to share the big picture. Consider hosting a meeting where you share your organisation's future plans and how your people fit into each area of the grand plan. By enthusiastically sharing your vision and goals you can inspire your employees to be as invested in the success of themselves, the team and the organisation as you are.
Do a little research on what employees want in 2023 and you will quickly see that opportunities for growth and development is high up on those lists. And it’s not just what people are looking for in a new job, it’s what existing employees are looking for in their current job too! A recent study by Zippia found that 94% of employees would stay at a company if it invested in their career. Are you providing your people with opportunities for growth and development? Not just for our new people but for everyone. Sometimes great, consistent performers at the top of their game get left to their own devices and we can fall into the trap of not offering them opportunities for development because they are so self sufficient. The danger here is that people can start looking for growth opportunities elsewhere.
To keep our people engaged and developing, consider setting up a regular meeting to discuss where they would like to develop. Set a yearly learning and development budget for each individual where they can then select what courses they are interested in. Reach out to us on hello@luminateleadership.com.au if you would like to discuss development options for your team.
Ask yourself, of those 9 pillars, which of them matter most to you?
We have to stop and think - what might my people be longing for that I’m not providing? If I don’t know which of these pillars are important for my people then I might be missing something that could make a huge positive impact to them. It could be the difference between a good team environment and a great one.
Have questions or want to know how Luminate Leadership can support you? Reach out via our socials, our website, drop us a line at hello@luminateleadership.com.au or call us on 0423 732 320. We’d love to partner with you to build your team culture. We explore strategies on how to create and sustain a great team environment as well as many other invaluable leadership skills and techniques in our workshop program, Leadership Foundations - click HERE to learn more and sign up.
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