Cultivating a Positive Workplace Culture: Key Takeaways from Our Latest Webinar
In today’s dynamic work environments, building a supportive, positive culture is more critical—and more challenging—than ever. In our recent webinar, moderated by Karin Kuusk, founder of Motiveer.eu, experts
Katrīna Krūze and Olga Karūna Gailuma shared invaluable insights on cultivating a strong, resilient workplace culture, even during tough economic times.
Why Positive Culture Matters
A healthy workplace culture is often the “secret ingredient” for retaining employees, fostering productivity, and navigating the unique challenges that come with diverse teams and budget constraints. As Katrīna Krūze emphasized, “Workplace culture exists as soon as two people work together.” It’s more than a nice-to-have; it’s essential for any organization aiming to attract and retain motivated employees who feel valued and respected.
What Defines a Positive Workplace Culture?
Building a strong, positive culture takes intentional work. The webinar focused on a few defining aspects:
1. Communication Style: Open, respectful communication—whether formal or informal—is fundamental. As Katrīna shared, “Even small signals like whether emojis are used in emails can reflect a company's culture."
2. Leadership Behavior: Leadership sets the tone. Olga highlighted, “Workplace culture holds people when they get better offers elsewhere.” Leaders who model openness and respect encourage others to follow suit.
3. Consistency: Consistent behaviors, from daily interactions to annual reviews, shape culture over time.?
Practical Tips for Building Positive Culture on a Budget
Economic pressures often reduce the resources available for culture-building activities. Here’s what you can do when budgets are tight:
1. Engage Your People Directly: Leaders can use free tools, like pulse surveys, to keep a pulse on team morale. Olga noted that even short, anonymous surveys provide “real data” that can guide immediate improvements and highlight departmental differences.
2. Focus on Authentic Team Building: Simple, cost-free activities, such as organizing team lunches, walking meetings, or casual get-togethers, can strengthen bonds without a hefty budget. As Katrīna mentioned, even small, engaging activities foster connection and respect.
3. Create Spaces for Personal Development: Giving team members “time for themselves,” whether it’s a yoga session or language-learning break, can boost morale without direct financial investment.
Addressing Challenges in Workplace Culture
The webinar also discussed navigating specific cultural challenges, particularly in large or multinational companies. Olga emphasized using tools like “The Culture Map” by Erin Meyer, which helps leaders recognize and bridge cultural communication gaps, while Katrīna recommended openly acknowledging the uniqueness of each team member’s background.
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Olga pointed out, “Everyone’s voice matters; if employees are voicing concerns, that’s actually a positive sign.” The goal is to cultivate an environment where people feel free to share ideas without fear of judgment or penalty.
Responding to Trends and Changing Workplace Norms
With some companies recalling employees to the office, the topic of flexibility in work environments became a focal point. Katrīna advised that companies must ensure people understand the “why” behind these changes: “If a return to office is necessary, be clear about the reasons—whether for productivity or connectivity—and give people the tools to thrive in this environment.”
Key Takeaways to Start Building a Positive Culture Today
Here are three actionable takeaways you can implement right away:
1. Prioritize Communication: Open lines of communication make all the difference, especially during periods of change.
2. Lead by Example: Leadership has to walk the talk. Leaders who model openness and flexibility inspire their teams to do the same.
3. Foster Personal Fulfillment: Invest in low-cost activities or practices that allow people to pursue personal interests or passions, helping them feel valued beyond their daily work tasks.
Closing Thoughts
As this discussion highlighted, workplace culture isn’t about costly initiatives or lofty policies. It’s about the everyday choices, attitudes, and interactions that collectively build a resilient, positive environment where people want to work. By taking small steps—being open, engaging with empathy, and encouraging personal growth—leaders at any level can make a lasting impact on their workplace culture.
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P.S. Meet the Experts!
With over 1,000 mentors trained through programs like RigaTechGirls and She Rebuilds The World, Olga specializes in designing effective mentoring and coaching programs across the EU and Gulf regions. Her expertise includes coaching (ICF PCC), mentoring, L&D strategy, and employee engagement. She has a track record of transforming workplaces into hubs of growth and retention. Reach out to Olga here
Katrīna has built training programs for over 700 employees across renowned brands like Nike, adidas, and Intersport, achieving 84% engagement on e-learning platforms and driving over 50 promotions within two years. Her global experience, from Kuwait to China, enriches her approach to workplace learning and motivation. In this session, she focused on fostering understanding in diverse teams. Connect with Katrīna directly here