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4 Ways to Create a Positive Work Culture for Your Small Business

4 WAYS TO CREATE A POSITIVE WORK CULTURE FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS
 November 8, 2022 |  Business Tips, Franchise |  hiring, small business, business growth

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.'s Marketing Coach

As your small business grows, you may find yourself in a position to hire additional employees, expanding your team and delegating duties as far as your finances allow. While growth is exciting, it also comes with its own set of problems. A successful small business owner must also become a successful team manager. They impart their vision for their business to new team members, who must become productive workers and genuine brand advocates.

After making your new hires, you need to earn their loyalty and create an ideal environment for them to operate as optimally as possible. This, of course, all hinges on the quality of your work culture. Do your employees dread work, or do they look forward to it? Are they willing to make concessions when times are tough, or will they back out when they are most needed? Consider these tips to strengthen your company culture and develop a family-like atmosphere that makes work something to look forward to.

According to a Globoforce study, happy employees are 85% more efficient in their work and stay in their positions twice as long. Although it might be common sense, sustaining a team that enjoys their work should be a priority for all small business owners and managers looking to build their company.

1. Communication
For someone to feel part of an organization and not like an outsider looking in, communication is key. Keep your team in the loop on news, upcoming deals, and approaching events. Even if the information isn’t particularly necessary to share with everyone, inclusion on some amount of current events will help your team feel like they are part of the company’s “pulse.” Even if the topic isn’t one that everyone has the expertise to share their opinion on, open information builds a culture of collaboration, and ultimately a culture of buy-in.

Report on your successes and the successes of your team members! Provide an opportunity for everyone to celebrate together, especially on small wins and early accomplishments by new team members. Building a camaraderie between your team members is vital for building that positive atmosphere where your employees will be happy to work. In addition, this practice of reporting on positive news creates a culture of open dialogue and one that makes giving feedback much more palatable.

2. Social Connections
While communication between owners and their workers is extremely important, so is communication between employees themselves. In order to build a culture of collaboration, owners need to foster social interactions so that their staff is comfortable reaching out to one another for help. To ensure that the owner isn’t always the point of contact for every issue, this comfortability is particularly key.

Owners and managers that have an office space should invest in a common area, where their employees are encouraged to spend their breaks. Consider providing coffee or morning snacks to entice your team to make use of this space. For businesses that don’t have an office space, find an activity which builds on your team’s common interests and arrange a team getaway. Whether this is a bowling night or a picnic or any other social gathering, the main idea is to build a comfortable amount of familiarity between your team members so that their time at work is enriched and your team seeks one another out for work-related advice.

3. Goals & Recognition
As a successful boss, you’ve set out a clear plan for your employees so that they are aware of their expectations and their goals. With these tangible goals in place, don’t ignore them as they come and go! When a new team member first meets their goals, this is the most important time to focus on recognition. Show your team that their goals matter, they will be noticed and celebrated!

Depending on the size of the goal, consider throwing a small party for the team to celebrate together and offer their own congratulations. Milestone anniversaries, birthdays, or holidays are other opportunities to reflect on the team’s work, showing appreciation for their time investment and their efforts. These occasions are also things that your workers can look forward to, a great way to build anticipation and satisfaction in your workplace!

4. Support Wellness
There is countless research that shows how healthy living leads to better mental health. Support efforts towards personal wellness, perhaps by offering healthy eating options or sponsor gym memberships as rewards for meeting certain goals. Of course, as with all aspects of company culture, it is best to lead by example. Invest into a healthy lifestyle as an owner or manager to experience the impact for yourself and act as a testimonial for your team.

Physical and mental wellness can mean a lot of different things. Learn and take an interest in your team’s struggles, offering aid when appropriate or just be a trusted source for support.

A happy team is a strong team, and your small business will only go as far as your team will take you. With these tips, you can start bolstering your work culture today, and set your business up for success.

With your National Property Inspections franchise, you have access to a network of experienced business owners and a corporate team dedicated to your success. To get started with your own franchise today, request your free info packet or speak with our lovely recruitment team!

How did you build your stellar workplace culture? Let us know!

About the Author
Kimberly Stevens, Marketing Coach
The baby of eight children, Kimberly learned quickly to master the art of communication in order to be heard. She has been with NPI for more than 15 years and is passionate about getting to know our franchisees. Kimberly is a certified marketing and business coach, trainer and speaker, leading training seminars, one-to-one coaching and more. She's a high-energy, fiery red head and an eternal optimist. Her greatest joy is celebrating our franchisees’ victories!