Everything You Need to Know On Creating a Good Company Culture

As a business leader or dedicated HR manager, you’re most likely already aware that a good company culture isn’t just a 'nice-to-have'; it's the backbone of a successful, thriving business. It's the invisible glue that binds your team together, underpinning morale, productivity and overall job satisfaction. 

So, how do you inspire a truly good company culture? What makes up a positive one, and where should you start in your journey to fostering the right environment in the workplace?  

Let’s take a look.

Consider it as the company’s personality. This encompasses the company’s mission, values, ethics, work environment, and goals.

The most workplace-positive companies usually have the same typical traits, including: 

• Teamwork: There’s often a big emphasis on a corporate culture of teamwork and cooperation. They recognise that collective efforts invariably lead towards better outcomes and organisational success.
• Feedback: An important aspect of good company culture is valuing feedback. This includes learning from constructive criticism and fostering a growth mindset for continuous improvement.
• Inclusivity: Promoting company values like inclusivity and respect for each other's identities is another avenue Australian workplaces have adopted. This approach rewards and acknowledges the diversity among employees.
• Agility: A company using agile methodology often means the workplace culture is based on autonomy, reducing hierarchies, and increasing productivity.
• Collaborative decision-making: This involves integrating employees from various levels and departments in decision-making processes, thus promoting mutual respect, collaboration and shared ownership.

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They form the foundation of your company culture. These values serve as your organisation's guiding principles, providing a framework for decision-making and setting the tone for employee behaviour. 

Your core values should reflect what your company truly believes. Words like 'commitment', 'respect', 'collaboration', and 'shared ownership' should be more than just words on a page and should be actively lived out in your workplace every day. 

So, how can you apply these principles to your own company? Try these two steps: 

1.  Start by brainstorming values that align with your business mission. Do you value innovation and progressive thinking? Or maybe a commitment to ongoing learning and development? 
2. Once you've identified these values, communicate them clearly to your employees and ensure they are integrated into the fabric of your organisation, promoting employee engagement and a harmonious workplace.

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Here are our favourite techniques for ensuring the company’s culture focuses on your workplace environment and overall commitment to improving team morale:

Embrace Socialisation and Teamwork 

Social connections are the biggest contributor to a positive workplace environment. Having a culture that values and facilitates camaraderie goes a long way in fostering strong professional relationships across employees. 

Instigating social events, team outings, or community-based events can be a great way to feasibly achieve this, and promote your company’s values simultaneously. Additionally, these activities are perfect for helping new employees settle in, or ensuring other team members are engaged employees overall.

Cultivate a Growth Mindset 

A growth mindset is a MUST for a great company culture. It supports continuous improvement and values each employee's individual professional development. Encouraging growth and providing platforms for your team to enhance their skills positions your company for better success and creates a rewarding environment for your staff. 

Enhance Work-Life Balance 

A key aspect of a healthy, positive company culture is a balanced work-life and sometimes businesses forget simple employee benefits like this. Ultimately, it can even decrease employee turnover and increase employee morale in a plethora of ways.

Offering flexible work arrangements and support for employee wellness can boost overall productivity and enhance satisfaction levels across company cultures. Whether it's wellness programs, work-from-home options, or simply respecting boundaries and personal time, striking a balance can create a happier and more productive workforce. 

Did you know 80.7% of workers in a hybrid job role reported good self-rated mental health in a recent survey?

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Regular employee feedback sessions can not only help identify areas that need improvement but also make employees feel valued and heard, fortifying a sense of belonging and loyalty in them. 

This also helps avoid a toxic company culture and ensures all team members know the company values. 

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• Nurture a relaxed environment that helps employees destress and rejuvenate, increasing productivity and satisfaction. A strong corporate culture starts with the right attitudes towards well-being.
• Adopt virtual collaboration and remote work arrangements to maintain inclusivity and work-life balance.
• Focus on employee wellness to ensure productivity and positive company culture in a post-pandemic world.
• Collaboration is key. Play your part in maintaining mutual respect and unity within the team, following core values of harmony, heart, and hunger.
• Acknowledge and appreciate team efforts with recognition events to encourage employees' sense of belonging and enthusiasm.
• Emphasise honesty, transparency and integrity as much as possible, as seen in successful companies. Let your employees feel heard by company leaders.
• Invest in employee growth and career advancement opportunities to motivate your team.