MightyRecruiterExpert Advice on What it Takes to Build a Healthy Business Culture for SMB
Ask the owner of any successful small business and they’ll tell you that business culture matters. It is far too easy for business owners to get caught up in their day to day operations to chase short-term profits. While short-term success is an indicator that something is being done right, it does not guarantee longevity in today’s economy. A happy work culture can put any small business in a prime position to enjoy long-term success. Here is some advice on what it takes to create a healthy business culture for SMB.
The Recession’s Positive Impact on SMB
Many companies are used to throwing money and perks at their employees in order to get them to toe the line and keep them happy. Unfortunately, the recession put an end to that practice, resulting in employers needing to do more. Companies are now forced to pay close attention to their employee’s needs so they can make better investment decisions into the company culture. A positive company culture can go a long way towards motivating employees. Happy employees are more productive, and productive employees generate more profits.
Establish Communication
The backbone of any healthy relationship, whether it’s personal or professional is communication. Start implementing ways to increase communication between everyone in your organization. Don’t limit the exchange to specific departments. Open up the lines of communication so they flow both ways. Encourage managers and supervisors to provide clear and honest feedback to their subordinates about expectations and your employees will reciprocate.
Don’t set aside a designated time for communication. Implement ways that encourage communication around the clock. Use apps, emails and other means to get employees and supervisors to talk freely with each other.
Set the Standard With Leadership
Make sure your leadership team consists of people who exemplify the attitudes and behaviors you want your employees to have. Everyone that acts in an executive role for your company should work together cohesively as a team player and be completely transparent. By leading by example, lower level employees will know how they are supposed to act at all times to help improve company culture.
Encourage Ownership
Whether you already have someone in charge of company culture or you need to hire from the outside, make sure there is someone who is directly responsible for establishing a healthy business culture for SMB. Although they may be in charge, they can’t do it all by themselves. However, they can implement activities and processes that will encourage all other employees to become more active in creating a happy and healthy work environment and culture.
Instill Company Values
Don’t assume that your employees only want and deserve a paycheck. Give them something to believe in and look forward to each and every day. By instilling a core set of values and beliefs, you’ll help to fuel your employees passions, which will help to improve how everyone respects and treats each other, performs their work duties and treats your customers.
Encourage Self-Management
No healthy business culture for SMB is complete without employees who know how to manage themselves. These people know what to do, who to go to for clarification and when to perform their tasks. These employees are also highly productive and efficient at managing their time. Self-management helps to encourage creativity, objectivity, systematic planning and increased accountability to serve the organization’s higher purpose and goals.
Increase Accountability
Although the goal is to foster a healthy business culture for SMB, one should not neglect or overlook accountability. Accountability is necessary to establish authority, objectivity and commitment. Make sure each employee has a stake in the outcome of their efforts. This can be done by implementing goals, feedback, assessments and reports. Don’t forget to include benchmarks that directly tie each individual’s work and efforts to different aspects of your organization’s operations, such as its beliefs, culture and financial gains.
Encourage Healthy Conflict
Healthy conflict is centered on ideas and practices. There is nothing personal about it, nor does it exist between certain personalities. Part of establishing a healthy business culture for SMB is having employees who are able to constructively and positively engage in conflict to achieve specific goals for the overall good of the organization. Although there may be times where things get a little personal, all parties must know how to deescalate things to keep the situation and outcome positive.
As you look for ways to improve company culture and employee relations, feel free to use the resources Mighty Recruiter has to offer to do so.