How A Healthy Company Culture Can Transform Your Business

We’ve all heard some variation of the saying ‘feel good, do good’, where it is established that your morale greatly impacts your actions and productivity. Similarly, a workplace culture where employees feel safe to speak, share and use their talents creatively can transform your small business tremendously. September is observed as World Company Culture Month, celebrated on September 18th, and in recognition of this, I want to reflect on the importance of establishing and maintaining an intentional organisational culture for small businesses like Untwist Marketing.?

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?According to Deloitte, over 90% of executives believed that strong corporate culture is imperative for the success of a business.?

The Foundations of a Healthy Culture?

Company Culture is the composition of a company’s beliefs, values, and mission which drive the actions and performance of employees and employers alike. While every organisation is unique, some of the core properties of creating a healthy company culture are communication, shared values, practices and recognition. When an organisation prioritises the happiness and satisfaction of its employees, it inadvertently increases the chances for effective and profitable productivity.?

Communication?

Communication is an essential attribute in running a well-oiled machine. As a company, the communication style you foster can either implode from misunderstandings or lack of transparency. On the other hand, there is success in remaining transparent, open-minded and fostering a safe space led by trust and not fear or complacency.?

Shared Values?

The values of an organisation drive a lot of the decision-making whether it be for mundane practices or significant operational aspects of the business. From the conception of your business to onboarding new members, communicating and reiterating your values is necessary. Obviously, our value systems won't always be in perfect alignment but finding ways to match or bridge your employees’ values with your own will only ever benefit the organisation as a whole.?

Daily Practices?

It is often said that the future is made in our daily practices. Enacting a culture of ethical work and engagement ensures the safety of your employees and brand identity. Moreover, your company’s vision and mission will drive the actions of today. The actions of today can range from making time and space for light-hearted conversation to creating an environment of reliability and accountability; it is all about making each day fulfilling in various ways for your team.?

Recognition?

Acknowledging the work of your employees does a great deal for the overall morale of the company. Whether it is small acts and efforts, or lead-generating work, all your employees' efforts impact your company's trajectory.? As you encourage your team to be their most creative and productive, it is only natural that they seek validation for their efforts as this affirms their sense of belonging and keeps their fire alive.?

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Small business owners can benefit from laying these foundations early and with intention. This would be the compass that directs your company towards producing authentic and impactful work. While it may seem that some of these qualities might be easier to implement in smaller organisations, my experience has shown that small does not mean low maintenance.

Boosting and Maintaining A Positive Company Culture

Emphasise Teamwork?

Working as a team not only expedites processes across the board, but improves creativity and helps build trust between employees. In turn, this will greatly impact the performance of your business from the inside out.

Establish Guidelines?

Reinforcing the company culture goes a long way in reminding your employees of the end goal. Moreover, it assists in showing that these values and goals are taken seriously by management as well, which encourages everyone to uphold them and remain accountable.?

Lead By Example?

As a business owner, it is important that you show your employees what it means to believe in your vision and mission. Leading by example is an exhibition of the values you wish to uphold in your company as your employees only know a fraction of what you have envisioned.?

Engagement and Feedback?

Your employees exist within the culture you wish to foster, and in turn, they can provide insightful feedback on what works and what doesn’t. You can boost company morale by engaging with your staff, having in-depth conversations with them and allowing them to share their thoughts on what would make the environment feel safe and welcoming.?

Conclusion?

Company culture is the beating heart of any business, it fosters creativity, productivity, relationship building and meaningful work. While bigger companies have had the time to establish and hone their organisational culture, small businesses are tasked with the mission of defining themselves with seemingly fewer margins for error. The Untwist Marketing team is testament to the necessity of building a business on the foundation of shared values, strong communication and a sense of comradery. However, we too have had to, and continue to learn, reformulate and solidify a thriving culture. Meaning that there is always room to grow and the resources and tools are abundant.?