Company culture continues to be a popular topic among small business owners and it has begun to affect everything from sales to employee retention. Cultivating a culture that fits the ideals and mission of your company takes work. Here we identify several key aspects of your approach to address.
Employee Experience
Focusing on the employee experience allows you to get the most out of your staff. Employee morale plays a major role in the success of your business. Utilize surveys and exit interviews to identify ways your company can improve the employee experience. When input from your staff is taken seriously, they are more likely to remain positive and loyal to your company. Some common ways to improve the employee experience include facility upgrades, open-forum company meetings, and new equipment that can make their job easier.
Leadership Opportunities
Often times small businesses have an unclear chain of command and too few people who are in official leadership positions. Leadership roles should be provided at all levels of your company to nurture the future leaders of your organization. Applying titles such as “team leader” to the lower levels of your company will help to empower all of your employees, allowing them to contribute to your growth. When all levels of your organization see a true path to success, you create a culture of loyalty and opportunity.
Continued Education
In order for your company to continue to grow, your employees need to continue to grow. It sounds like a simple concept, but too few small business owners invest in the continued training and education of their employees. Many people fear that obtaining new knowledge will drive workers to bigger opportunities. In some instances, this does occur, but the benefits of holding on to even one or two highly educated employees are immense. You also have to consider that, although an employee may leave your company, that does not mean the education you provided them isn’t remembered. Having outside sources that are intimately familiar with your company as advocates can provide top-notch word of mouth advertising.
Work-Life Balance
As a business owner you have the potential to impact the quality of life for what can be dozens, even hundreds, of people. A healthy work-life balance will help improve employee morale and productivity. Some ways to make this happen include providing flexible schedules, remote work opportunities and childcare on premises. Allowing for time with family, vacations and time for self-improvement will reward you with a loyal and enthusiastic workforce.
Employee Wellness Programs
Making an investment in the well-being of your employees can have a lasting impact. Healthy workers are more productive, miss fewer days and have a higher rate of job satisfaction. As a small business owner, you should always be looking for ways to cut costs and improve quality without sacrificing the vision you have for your business. Wellness programs can be as small as offering discounted gym memberships to as large as having an in-house nutritionist, juice bar and workout room. Whatever your approach, be sure your aim is to educate and empower your employees to take care of themselves.
Unique Perks
Most employees have come to expect traditional benefits such as health, dental and vision insurance. The onus is on business owners to come up with unique ways of motivating their staff. Not only do additional benefits help your employees, they show them that you care about them. Talk with your employees during open-forum meetings to help give you direction on how to best spend your time and money.
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