Strong company culture is hard to find. It takes hard work and a willingness to adapt. The good news is that once you find the right ingredients, the end product is a workplace where people are happy, productive and feel appreciated.
Here are a few things to act upon this year:
Swing your door open
Companies often talk about having open-door policies but don’t live up to the obligation. Supervisors owe it to their employees to be there when they need to talk. Whether it’s work-related or personal, it must be important if they have sought you out for advice or to serve as a sounding board. Make meeting with your employees a priority and give them the time they need to get their point across. You’ll be more respected and will probably even learn something in the process.
Communicate, then communicate again
Since many businesses are still working remotely and those that aren’t are operating with social distancing in place, we’re missing important hallway conversations and in-person group meetings. Now is the time to create that company intranet, hold regular all-staff Zoom or WebEx meetings or start an employee newsletter (even a one- or two-pager will do). We can still be together while working apart.
Hold exit interviews
People often find new opportunities, choose to go back to school or just want to spend time with their families. Don’t miss out on the chance to learn ways in which your workplace could improve by talking with those employees before they leave. Even if they are 100 percent happy with the way they were treated, it’s good to know what types of behavior you should be reinforcing.
Be serious about diversity and inclusion
Look around your workplace. If it doesn’t reflect your community and industry, it’s time to make changes. Social justice has been a hot topic the past few years, causing many of us to take a long look at ourselves. That self-inventory includes your business. It might take a while to find good culture fits when hiring, but if you get it right, you should gain a competitive advantage in your field.
West Press’ talented staff is here to help you each step of the way — from graphic design to printing to mailing services to large format to website development. Contact West Press or your Account Executive at 520-624-4939 today.