When it comes to running a successful business, often, it is not a downturn in revenue that brings down a company but the internal culture. So it is hardly a surprise why some of the most established companies in the country spend so much on bringing in mentors, consultants, and anyone who can help improve their culture. If it’s important to them, it should no doubt be important to you. The following list entails some of the best ways to create a healthy business culture among your employees.
Identify Your Ideal Culture
Simply wanting a positive business culture isn’t enough to obtain one. You must go into this with a clear understanding of what you want the end goal to be. The fact is that you may already have an atmosphere of respect within your office, but you lack communication. On the other hand, say your communication is up to par, but nobody truly speaks with each other. Asking yourself these questions will allow you to create and implement a program that can provide you with the right business culture for your company.
Watch Out for Problematic Behavior
One of the most common excuses heard from business leaders when dealt with a sexual harassment claim, or a lawsuit is that they simply didn’t know it was happening. Sure, some may have no idea because people tend to act differently around their boss, but that should never be an excuse. The number one issue facing companies from achieving a healthy business culture is problematic behavior, of all kinds. This could include social media bullying, sexual harassment, racial discrimination, and much more. Remember sexual harassment takes many forms, so you need to always keep your eyes open for it. The best way to eliminate this type of behavior is to allow everyone to speak with you privately. Take claims seriously and do your own research to back up those claims if you ever need to let go of an employee.
Organize Town Hall Meetings
The concept of a town hall meeting is quickly becoming very popular within the business world. The fact is that sometimes other employees may not be the problem, it must just be you. Therefore, most people would not walk into their boss’s office to complain about them. This is where the town hall meeting comes in. This type of meeting allows your employees to ask questions freely while answering those questions in front of everyone in the office. This form of communication creates a more transparent and honest business that can no doubt, contribute to overall healthy business culture.
Creating a healthy business culture is a very challenging thing to do. Often sacrifices must be made, or we might have to place ourselves in uncomfortable situations. Nevertheless, it is incredibly important to develop this within your company. Not only because it allows your company to grow but because it is simply the right thing to do for yourself and your hard-working staff.
We help companies develop great cultures through change management and organization design. If you want to learn more about how we can help, schedule a complimentary discovery call.