How to create a culture of support?
Our kneejerk reaction to our work is usually one of negativity. Most people look forward to Fridays and dread Mondays. That is however not the way your work environment should be. We have the ability to change our work culture and atmosphere.
How do we do it? We follow a formula. We reinforce certain behaviors, and we dispel others. We do this until the culture changes. Once we have created a culture of support, everyone will find it easier to come to work and will even start enjoying what they do. Our collective mindset and personal mindset are important in this process.
Concentrate on Your Core Values
It’s critical to have a set of defined core values that have been properly conveyed and debated with employees to ensure they feel a sense of belonging. These core values provide a framework for an organization’s policies and practices. The core values must be stated explicitly in the mission statement, brand narrative, and marketing materials.
It’s critical to take verifiable actions on a regular basis so that workers feel a sense of personal responsibility for these principles. This will allow employees to assess and take pleasure in their very own attitude toward these core principles. A good workplace culture is created through positive attitude and activities.
Core values are like the compass that keeps you heading in the right direction, even if you cannot yet see the destination.
Improve Trust and Emotional Safety
Human beings are drawn towards emotional safety. That is why babies need their mothers and why human beings respond to love. A lack of mental safety leads to a situation where people look for ‘security’ in other areas.
Making emotional safety a part of daily culture is something that every firm should strive towards. This is a viewpoint shared by companies like Google, which believes in the importance of psychological safety, concluding after a four-year research study that it is the top one predictor of team performance.
Feeling needed gives employees, a sense of emotional safety. Employees feel reassured and confident when they know their efforts are valued. Although few companies can predict the future, reassuring workers that they are appreciated increases their perception of job security, and perception is truth.
Incentivize Correctly
Examine your incentives and the things for which individuals are appreciated. People who are applauded for sweating it out and doing everything alone do not create a helpful society or work environment in recruiting and sales.
If someone is awarded a bonus after an initiative to create a new training course for new recruits that they thought would be beneficial, that’s a terrific opportunity to show that the organization honors individuals who are supportive and who build the company up.
Some Dos and Don’ts when it comes to providing incentives:
Do not…
- Allow incentives to turn into something employees feel entitled to, and
- Avoid ambiguity
Do…
- Determine which incentives work best for your company.
Make sure that your incentives program is clearly understood. Anything in life that can be misunderstood will be misunderstood.
Improve Communication and Collaboration
Communication in any organization is something I cannot emphasize enough. It is always applicable and in creating a supportive work environment it is critical. Nothing good comes from not communicating positively.
Regular audits should be taken to assess how individuals engage with one another, criticism is accepted and taken into consideration. Additionally, possibilities for social connection are provided as a result of open and honest communication. Coffee mornings, company outings, and family weekends are just a few examples. This allows team members to build and foster relationships outside of the workplace.
It’s critical to provide ongoing learning opportunities for team members to analyze their underlying implicit and unconscious biases that might affect their relationships with coworkers. Also, necessary for fostering a pleasant collaborative atmosphere are stringent no tolerance rules and a complaint system for workplace bullying. Few things in life are as destructive and devastating as bullying.
Ensure Your Work Environment is Inclusive
A good workplace is one in which all workers, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or race, are respected, encouraged, and fostered. Equal possibilities for advancement and access to all benefits and awards should be available to all workers. Individual diversity in the workplace are valued and made to feel welcome and welcomed in an inclusive workplace.
Include inclusive signage that is both clear and positive. Language barrier may lead to misunderstandings. It’s crucial to employ terminology that encourages the inclusive and gender-conscious attitude, such as stressing the purpose of space instead of users’ gender identities.
A healthy workplace culture is critical for instilling a feeling of ownership and pride among workers. When individuals are proud of their organization, they invest their potential in it and work tirelessly to establish further possibilities for it.
