Creating a positive and thriving company culture is vital for the success and well-being of any organization. Studies have shown, a strong company culture leads to:
- Higher employee satisfaction
- Increased productivity
- Better retention rates.
Our most recent survey of over 900 professionals shows that approximately 30% of employees felt neutral or negative about their company culture. So how can leaders improve and foster a positive culture within their companies? In this article, we will explore the findings of a recent study we completed. We will identify 6 key actions that leaders can take to enhance company culture.
In another one of our studies of 1,200 behavioral healthcare professionals, we discovered that the main reasons for employee dissatisfaction were related to pay and opportunities for growth. When we asked about company culture, only a small percentage (6%) expressed dissatisfaction with it. Yet, a larger percentage (22%) listed it as one of their top three reasons for feeling dissatisfied.
This suggests a simple solution in theory for improving company culture: increasing salaries or offering bonuses.Other incentives includecreating more chances for advancement. While this may seem like a great idea, not all organizations are able or willing to take on the costs associated with these changes.
So how do we improve company culture?
Advancement opportunities
Offer in-house advancement opportunities as a cost-effective way to improve culture. By giving employees first choice for promotions within the company, it motivates them to stay because they have an advantage. This shows that leadership values their employees by promoting from within instead of hiring from outside. This change strengthens company culture by making advancement a reachable goal.
Recognize and reward
Recognizing employees’ work and achievements is vital for a positive culture. Leaders should establish recognition and reward systems that celebrate employees’ contributions. This can be done through:
- Public recognition (employee of the month)
- Incentives
- Performance-based bonuses.
Rewarding employees boosts morale. It also reinforces the desired behaviors and motivates others to excel.
Open communication
In another of our studies of over 900 professionals, we asked respondents if they felt like leadership clearly communicated expectations. Of those surveyed 88% confirmed they did, yet over 37% felt moderate to no support in their role from leadership. This is showing there is room for improvement in communication. Leaders should actively seek feedback from employees and be willing to act upon it. This can be done through regular employee surveys, monthly meetings, or one-on-one discussions. By listening to feedback and making necessary changes, leaders create a culture where employees feel heard and valued.
Define your purpose and align values
Leaders need to clearly explain the main goals of the company. They also need to make sure all employees understand them well. This can be done by posting your mission statement somewhere within your organization. This helps remind everyone of your core values. These beliefs guide how people should behave and make decisions. It’s important for leaders to always act in line with these beliefs. This helps strengthen the company’s culture. It also helps employees know how to follow those beliefs in their everyday tasks. According to teambuilding.com “Clarifying your company’s focus gives your team a sense of direction to buy into and support.”.
Encourage teamwork
Creating opportunities for teamwork, produces a supportive environment. You can encourage collaboration on a project between teams of employees. This helps employees get to know one another and build trust and respect for one another. This also helps in building a culture of cooperation vs a culture of competition.
Empower and delegate
Leaders should empower their workers to be able to make decisions within their role. They can do this by providing all the information about their job duties. They can also provide training needed to perform their work duties. By allowing employees autonomy, you are showing that you trust and respect them. Another way to empower employees is to delegate tasks. Giving tasks that can be performed helps the worker take ownership of something. It allows them to feel confident because you’re trusting them to complete the task. This in turn, helps them to become more engaged and motivated.
Our research has found that when a company has a strong culture:
- Employees are happier
- Employees are motivated to work more efficiently
- Employees want to stay in the company longer
To improve the culture, leaders can provide more opportunities for their employees. This could look like:
- Giving employees chances to move up in the company
- Recognizing and rewarding their hard work
- Making sure everyone can talk openly
- Setting clear values
- Promoting teamwork
- Letting employees take on important tasks.
Leaders can make the company’s culture more positive and successful by implementing these factors. This in turn, will make employees feel appreciated, happier, and more motivated.
Your business is only as good as your people
We know just how hard it is to find the right people in the behavioral healthcare industry. When dealing with sensitive and personal issues like mental health or substance abuse, not just any employee will do.
Jordan and Associates Consulting specializes in behavioral health recruiting and will be your trusted partner in hiring the right people. If you have a good team in place, we can offer coaching and training on admissions, referrals, and other critical aspects of the behavioral healthcare industry.
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