10 Easy Ways to Create a Positive Workplace Culture

Full-time employees in the US spend around 130 hours a month at work—that’s the equivalent of listening to “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton 2,870 times—so maintaining a positive work culture in your business is absolutely essential.

There's been a shift of US workers feeling increasingly detached from their jobs since the pandemic, and analytics firm Gallup has coined this concept “The Great Detachment”. A shift to hybrid and remote working, organizational disruption, and a reset in how employees prioritize work-life balance has resulted in dissatisfaction and a disconnect that impacts how positive workers feel.

Every business has a company culture—a shared set of values, beliefs, and attitudes that guide your organization. While some company cultures develop these naturally, intentionally building a positive culture can help you boost morale and create a thriving organization.

If you leave company culture to chance, you could end up with a cycle of bad habits, negative perceptions, and a workforce that quits. Get ahead of this by considering your current workplace culture and how it can be improved.

What Is Positive Work Culture?

Positive work culture cultivates collaboration, productivity, and satisfaction among employees. This type of environment can make work more enjoyable, benefitting your business in the long run. Positive employees are more likely to feel engaged in their role and your business, which in turn comes with many benefits.

Data from Gallup notes that businesses with strong employee engagement enjoy a reduction in absenteeism by a significant 71%. Accidents also reduce by 63%, while sales increase by 18% and customer loyalty improves by 10%.

What Factors Affect Company Culture Most?

Many factors can affect company culture, but the most impactful include:

• Leadership and management: Lack of direction and support can negatively impact the positivity in a workplace. Mold your managers into leaders who can inspire and encourage their team to do great things.
• Company mission and values: If these aren’t strong or clear enough, employees can feel like they have nothing to aim for, potentially resulting in disinterest and disengagement.
• Benefits   and perks: While paying your team members the right amount is key, benefits and perks are also important to maintain positivity in the workplace. Think flexible working, extra paid time off and healthcare.
• Growth and development opportunities. No one wants to feel stagnant in their role, but lack of growth and development can result in employees feeling negative about their work and progress in your business.

What Are the Benefits of a Positive Company Culture?

A positive workplace culture can reap many benefits for your organization, including increased:

• Job Satisfaction.  Employees feel happier working for companies that invest in their professional growth and wellbeing, and they’ll stick around longer if they feel their voices are being heard.
• Employee Retention.  Employees are more likely to stay with a company that treats them fairly and provides them with the tools and resources to succeed. Consider the three cs of retention—compensation, career path, and culture—and implement these in your workplace.
• Productivity.  Employees who enjoy their work and get along with their colleagues are more likely to work harder. Being invested in the company can also make them more passionate about helping it succeed.
• Comradery and collaboration. Having friends at work has a positive impact on employees. Those who claim to have a best friend at work were 44% more likely to recommend their employer. A positive workplace encourages social interactions and collaboration, leading to potential friendships and happier employees.
• Employee Morale.  When employees feel motivated and happy at work, they are much more likely to have high morale. This has a positive knock-on effect on things like employee engagement and overall satisfaction.
• Recruitment.  Creating a positive work environment can improve your company’s reputation, making you more attractive to talented professionals looking for their next role.

How to Create a Positive Workplace Culture in 10 Steps

Step 1: Establish Your Company Values

The first step in creating a positive culture in the workplace is to determine your company’s mission and values and incorporate these into everything your company does.

When establishing company values, think about what’s important to your company and its people. Innovation? Sustainability? What values will drive your company on its mission, and which ones will your employees rally around? But most of all, which values will manifest positivity and enthusiasm in your team?

Step 2: Foster Communication and Collaboration

Encouraging open and honest communication is vital to creating a positive work culture. Create opportunities for your employees to get to know one another and form relationships by hosting team lunches and other workplace events.

Not only do workplace relationships lead to better collaboration, but they also lead to increased retention and workplace satisfaction, according to Gallup’s poll.

Step 3: Be Flexible

Employees shouldn’t fear repercussions for taking time off to manage responsibilities outside work. Offering the flexibility to work remotely and around their lifestyle can create a better work-life balance and improve morale.

Flexibility can also attract more candidates to your organization. Gallup data suggests that nine in 10 employees who are remote-capable prefer flexibility and hybrid work.

Step 4: Promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Create a positive work culture by building diversity, equity, and inclusion into the core of your business. Promote diversity and inclusion through the following practices:

• Include diversity recruiting methods in your hiring processes.
• Educate your team on unconscious bias so everyone can work together to recognize biases and prevent these from shaping the workplace culture.
• Develop a strategic training program to foster an inclusive work environment.

Step 5: Provide Growth Opportunities

Provide your employees with the tools and resources they need to learn and develop. Consider performance management software to ensure you and your employees are on the same page about their trajectory and how they can continue to grow within the organization. You can also offer growth opportunities via more casual events like lunch and learns or workshops.

Step 6: Lead with Compassion

Empathy is a must in today’s world and workplace. Empathetic leaders and managers listen to their staff and support them through challenging times. This makes employees feel seen and heard, and as that sense of appreciation grows, company loyalty does too.

Step 7: Acknowledge Great Work

Recognizing and rewarding your employees for their achievements can make them feel valued and appreciated. Employees who receive recognition for their efforts often feel more motivated and engaged. It can also help to foster a work culture of friendly competition which can lead to increased performance.

While a simple ‘great job’ or ‘well done’ can be enough, here are a few other ways to recognize hard work:

• Bonuses
• Employee of the month awards
• Yearly awards
• Team shoutouts
• Additional paid time off

Step 8: Be Transparent

Engaged employees immerse themselves in your company, and they deserve clear and transparent communication. Being open and honest about the company’s performance and key decisions can help you gain their trust and make them feel like a part of the team.

Consider giving weekly or monthly updates through internal newsletters or company meetings.

Step 9: Set Clear Goals

Ensure employees understand what is expected of them by clearly communicating individual company and department goals. Goal-setting can give employees a sense of purpose and something to work towards. Clear goals will also help you to monitor and track performance.

Step 10: Embrace Employee Feedback

Gathering regular feedback from your employees can help you identify and resolve any issues within your company. It also allows employees to be seen and heard, which can give them a sense of value within the workplace.

Start Creating a More Positive Workplace Culture

Positive work culture can increase collaboration, productivity, and employee satisfaction—key components that lead to business success. The next step is to gauge how people are currently feeling in your business.

Is the overall sentiment positive, and do you simply need to keep the momentum going or add to the benefits available? Or are people feeling pessimistic about the business and their role, and you have things to adjust and consider?

A survey is a great starting point. Make it anonymous and allow your employees to share their thoughts without fear of repercussions. Finding out how people are feeling is easy with dedicated net promoter score software that you can tailor to your team and send out. Kick things off with this essential feedback then continue to maintain and hone your positive workplace culture to reap the benefits.