8 Easy Steps to Transform Your Culture From Toxic to Peak Performance
“Corporate culture is the only sustainable competitive advantage that is completely within the control of the entrepreneur. Develop a strong corporate culture first and foremost.”
I think that’s a valid point.
Corporate culture matters. The very foundation of a business’s success is built on its unique culture. Having a great company culture gives employees something to be excited about. It encourages beliefs and behaviors that positively impact the company and boosts peak performance among teams.
Overall, a strong, happy culture allows everyone to have fun while ensuring that all the work gets done — it’s like a win-win situation for a company.
However, according to a recent Gallup survey, as summarized by CBS MoneyWatch, many Americans aren’t happy with their current work culture. More than 50% of full-time employees in America feel no real connection to their work and are doing the bare minimum. Another 16% said that they’re “actively disengaged” at work. That means they resent their jobs and tend to gripe to co-workers and have lower office morale as a result.
Clearly, many managers and leaders are not doing a great job of keeping their employees happy. The only way they can make things right is by upgrading their work culture. And I’ve got a few tips that can help. Below, I’ve outlined 8 simple tips that can help managers turn a toxic work environment into a culture of peak performance.
Here, have a look.
1. Focus on transparency
Positive work culture is only achieved when there is transparency in the workplace. When you’re in business, you have to make many high profile decisions. The impact of these decisions — good or bad — is not limited to a particular group or a team; it affects everyone who is associated with the business. When you practice a culture of transparency, employees are made aware of all the decisions and their results, thereby allowing them to make things better — both for themselves and their business.
2. Recognize and reward contributions
From management to the lowest level employee, everyone seeks appreciation for a job well done. And it’s not about a big trophy or a laminated certificate, a small pat on the back would also work. When you appreciate and recognize people, you inspire them to perform at their peak without requesting or pushing them. However, if you genuinely want to make a difference, you can reward great performances with monetary as well as non-monetary benefits. The bottom line is that you have to sustain high performance by recognizing individual/group contributions.
3. Encourage better coworker relationships
If your employees don’t care about each other, it’s a hint of negative work culture. Encouraging better coworker relationships and exploring ways to boost workplace engagement is a great way to avoid this problem at its initial stage. Now there are two ways to do this. First, you can improve your hiring process and recruit people who are more likely to fit into your culture. Another option is to invest in collaborative project management software. You can try ProofHub, it’s an all-in-one project management software solution that makes it easy for businesses to plan, organize, track, and deliver work together, as a team.
Want to create a culture of empowerment and productivity in your office? Let ProofHub help. Sign up for a free trial now!
4. Provide work flexibility
Employee expectations are likely to change over time, but currently, flexibility is a major factor that affects an employee’s performance in the workplace. In fact, according to recent research, over 40% of employees have agreed that flexibility is one of their top-three motivating factors while making key career decisions. That means they seek flexibility to work from home or choose their work hours when needed. Fortunately, the growth of remote work culture has made it easier for companies to grant flexibility to their staff.
5. Communicate with purpose and passion
Communication is a vital part of any business, especially when it comes to creating a positive work culture. The purpose of communication in a workplace is to make sure that everyone is putting their efforts in the right direction. When it’s done with a clear purpose and utmost passion, communication helps to make teams comfortable sharing their opinions within the workplace. However, when stifled, it leads to unnecessary conflicts and disagreements that later turn into major problems. Using a dedicated team communication app and hosting weekly company-wide meetings can be a good way to improve your communication channel.
6. Create a culture of constructive feedback sharing
Practicing the habit of consistent feedback sharing is a vital sign of positive work culture. Forget about scheduling annual performance reviews; instead, make it a regular workplace exercise. Moreover, don’t stick too much to the usual “manager to colleague” feedback sharing process. Allow team members to share constructive feedback on each other’s performance so that they can help each other become more productive at what they do. If it seems difficult, you can consider using an online review and proofing software. It will make feedback sharing quick and effective for your business.
Wondering what it’s like to be a part of a high-performance culture? Start using ProofHub!
7. Don’t neglect conflicts
Micro-managing, undermining, discrimination, harassment, or bullying — no matter what kind of toxic workplace behavior you or your fellow coworkers have been experiencing, you have to resolve it as soon as possible. Don’t expect people to put their emotions to the wayside, sooner or later it will influence their judgment. The only way you can get over any toxicity in a work environment is by coordinating support and engaging strategies to resolve things before the damage gets to your business’s core.
8. Give team building activities a try
Building a positive work culture and a strong team can’t happen without effort. However, there are a few things that can help you speed up the whole process. I’m talking about team building activities. Sure, they are often challenging and require a lot of planning, but in the end, they certainly make a difference. Just try some of your favorite team building activities and you will find that your team members have much better trust, communication, and overall improved workplace relationships.
Do you have a few suggestions for creating and maintaining a positive work culture? Share them in the comments below!
