How to Create a Positive Workplace Culture

The difference between a company with a great culture and one with a poor culture goes beyond whether your employees enjoy coming to work or how good the Christmas parties are. Culture plays a fundamental role in your company’s day-to-day operations and directly impacts your bottom line.

A clear, positive culture provides a guideline for how employees are expected to behave. Once established, it drives engagement, boosts creativity, and reduces staff turnover. Moreover, your culture communicates to the world what kind of company you are, so it’s essential to ensure that message is the right one.

1. Define Your Current Culture and What You Want to Achieve

If you're unsure about your current culture or what it should be to drive your company forward, it’s time to start brainstorming. Research what successful cultures look like in other organisations, then engage as many employees as possible.

Ask staff to fill out anonymous surveys about the current culture - what they like, what they don’t, and how they believe culture impacts their work. You might also consider bringing in an external consultant to help identify cultural issues and offer constructive advice. Finally, hold a session with your leadership team and key stakeholders, as they will be essential in driving this cultural transformation.

2. Appoint a Culture Champion

Appoint someone to lead your culture revolution, ideally someone who embodies the culture you're striving to create. This person must have the enthusiasm, respect, and people skills to inspire others and gain their emotional investment in the process. And as the leader, your visible support and excitement are crucial.

Without your backing, the culture initiative will fizzle out, and the company will likely revert to an unplanned or uninspiring culture. So, commit fully.

3. Set Clear and Simple Culture Goals

Your culture goals should be simple and easy to understand. Avoid overly complex or vague mission statements that end up forgotten in the HR manual.

For example, your core culture focus might be ‘collaboration’, ‘self-development’, or ‘transparency’. You could aim for a more inspirational value like ‘passion’. While you can have multiple culture goals, make sure they are compatible, and keep them concise - too many goals dilute the message and make it harder for employees to align their behaviour.

4. Communicate and Enforce the Culture

Once the culture goals are defined, communicate them clearly to all employees and insist that everyone works within these guidelines. Reward those who embrace the new culture and address those who resist it. There will be a transition period, but persistent non-compliance, even from top performers, must be addressed - otherwise, it will appear optional for everyone else.

It’s also vital to discuss your culture during the hiring process. Only bring on candidates whose values align with your culture. As new hires join and embrace the culture, it will naturally influence existing employees to do the same.

5. Make the Culture Attractive

Creating a positive culture is much easier when the work environment encourages employee growth and well-being. This is where perks come in - think flexible working arrangements, gym memberships, great break spaces, and staff social events.

Use social media to showcase your culture. This not only reinforces your brand but attracts like-minded candidates and clients, consolidating the cultural transformation.

Final Thoughts

Changing your company culture isn’t easy, but it’s an exciting journey. Watching your vision come to life while navigating challenges along the way is one of the most rewarding things you can achieve in business.

Good luck!

Many thanks,

Alex & The Excel Team

P.S. If you would like to discuss any of your other learning & development challenges, book in your discovery call.

About Excel Communications

Excel Communications is a learning and development consultancy based near London in the U.K. For more than 30 years; we have been collaborating with clients across the globe.  

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