We all know the saying ‘teamwork makes the dream work’, but until you’ve been in a workplace, you might not fully understand the truth behind this statement. In order for a business to function successfully, the staff needs to be working together. They need to feel cared for, appreciated and respected. You want your staff to feel like the people around them are supportive them, you want them to look forward to work as much as possible. In order to establish a workplace like this, you need to set the expectations of the workplace culture. Here are a 5 ways to do this:
- Step into your role as leader!
Ultimately, you have the power of making positive change or just continuing to create a positive space. As the owner of the business, you get to set the precedents of what it means to work there. You get to influence and impact your team.
- Create clear communication channels!
Communication is key! In the workplace, we want to avoid any frustration or confusion. One of the best ways to do this is to ensure that everyone is communicating effectively. Make sure that the right people are delegating tasks, that they have the opportunity to focus on their role and own tasks, as well as have access to support and help if they need it.
- Find something for you to all do together
Doing some kind of activity, even only occasionally is a great way to establish a strong sense of teamwork in the workplace! It helps to form relationships that go beyond the office, and helps assert trust and friendship. It also facilitates the finding of common ground in interests and areas outside of work.
- Keep reminding your team of the goal you’re working towards
Its important to keep your staff inspired. Help remind them of what they’re working towards every day in both short and long term goals. Explain to them not only ‘what’ they need to do, but ‘why’ they’re doing it. As the leader, you’re also a full time ‘vision caster!’
- Celebrate accomplishment with rewards!
To keep your team working hard, you should consider implementing rewards systems. These can be both monetary and non-monetary. Some examples of this might be:
Monetary:
- A bonus at the end of the year
- A gift card for a nice dinner
Non-monetary:
- An email congratulating your employee and thanking them for their hard work
- A mention in the next staff meeting of how well they’re doing, and a pubic celebration of their work
You can get creative with your reward, and try to make them as personal as well. This will show that you value not only the work your staff are providing, but them as the people doing it. Generosity evokes a desire to continue working hard and doing all that you can to support that person.
- Accept that some differences may just exist
In a workplace, there will always be a few differences amongst people that you can’t necessarily resolve. As long as these don’t negatively impact other people on your business, or the business itself, you may need to find a way to overlook them. People are very multi-faceted and so bringing together a team of people with all different backgrounds, strengths, weaknesses, and other characteristics will probably highlight nuances and differences in different moments. Instead of viewing this negatively, celebrate that your team is diverse, and all bring different things to the business!
The workplace culture of a business is extremely important in promoting effective work, motivation and loyalty to a company. There are many ways to create a positive workspace for your staff members, and it should remain a priority for all business owners.