9 Company Culture Tips for Office, Remote, and Hybrid Teams
The future of work is changing. It’s not just about having a job anymore, it’s about working with a company that has a great culture. People need to feel like they are a part of something bigger than themselves in order to be happy with their jobs.
In a Glassdoor Mission and Culture Survey, “77% of poll participants stated they would consider a company’s culture before applying.”
This is exactly why in the future of work, you will need to invest in building and nurturing a great work environment as a company. You need to create an environment where employees want to stay and where they feel engaged and appreciated. How you describe your company’s culture will inform new applicants if this is the right environment they would want to work in.
But what is company culture, what makes up a great culture, and how do you build and nurture it? In this post, we outline what it takes to build a culture regardless of whether you’re a remote, hybrid, or fully in-office team.
What is a company culture?
A company culture is a set of values, norms, and practices that shape how people behave in an organization. It is the environment in which people work and live. A single document or statement does not define company culture, rather, it emerges from the collective values and norms of its employees.
These sets of values cut across all team types. Whether you’re working remotely, in the office, or operating a hybrid workforce, you need to create a culture that people want to be part of and will be proud of.
When someone is describing a company’s culture, what are the words and phrases you want to hear?
What is a good work culture, and why should you care?
A good company culture is important to the success of the company. A culture that is not shared by the employees can cause a lot of problems for the company. Here’s why you should care about building and nurturing a great company culture as a 100% office, remote, or hybrid team.
Reduces employee turnover
A good company culture can reduce employee turnover. This is because employees are more likely to stay with the company when they feel they belong and the culture is one where they can thrive. Employees who feel that the company has a positive culture are also more likely to recommend it to others.
Propels higher employee engagement
A good company culture creates a sense of belonging and attachment to the organization. It provides a sense of meaning to employees, which leads to higher engagement and productivity.
Helps attract higher-quality candidates.
When deciding whether they want to work for a specific company, job seekers consider the company culture. Positive organizational cultures draw top candidates and excite them about the possibility of joining the team.
Company culture tips: what are examples of company culture?
There are many things that describe a company’s culture and there are many ways to define what makes up a good culture. A strong company culture should have these vital ingredients:
1) A shared set of values
A shared set of values is a set of beliefs that everyone in an organization agrees on. These values are not just words, they are the guiding principles for how people think and act. They can be anything from core values, vision, mission, or motto. The key is to make sure that everyone in the company clearly understands these values so that they can live by them every day. If the employees share the same set of values and beliefs, they will be more committed to the company and produce better work.
2) A sense of belonging
A sense of belonging in a company is the feeling that employees have about their work, their co-workers, and the organization. In order to create a sense of belonging, companies should have an open door policy, where anyone can voice their opinion and concerns with no fear of being judged. It should also give employees the opportunity to work on projects they are passionate about, as well as opportunities for team building and personal development.
3) Respect and fairness between and among employees and management
Respect and fairness are among the most important values in any positive company culture. Respect is a way of treating people with dignity and showing that you value them for who they are. Fairness is about everyone being treated equally, regardless of their position in the company. In order to create a respectful and fair working environment, it is important to set clear expectations from your employees, listen to their feedback, and act on it when necessary.
4) Provide opportunities for growth
In today’s world, it is not enough to be a good employer. It is important that one provides opportunities for learning and growth in a company.
94% of employees think they would stay at a firm longer if it merely engaged in helping them learn, according to LinkedIn’s 2019 Workforce Learning Report.
One way to provide opportunities for growth in a company is by providing cross-training opportunities. Cross-training allows employees to gain knowledge and experience in other areas of their job so that they are better equipped to take on new tasks and responsibilities. Another way to provide opportunities for growth is by providing training programs. Training programs allow employees to learn from experts on topics such as leadership, management, and finance, which can help them grow their skillset and advance their careers.
5) Celebrate wins
Sometimes, there is a lot of pressure on employees to perform at their best. So when you celebrate company or individual employee wins, it makes the work that much more enjoyable and motivating.
Here are some great ways to celebrate wins:
Create a victory board where everyone can see what the team has accomplished in a quarter or year.
Throw a party for the company or team member’s achievements.
Recognize people who have contributed the most in a particular period.
Write a blog post or social media post to spotlight performing team members.
6) Ensure comfortable work spaces
A comfortable work space is key to productivity and creativity - and a great way to build a great company culture. It’s important for employers to provide their employees with comfortable work spaces, including ergonomic chairs, desks, and healthy food options. Some employers even offer on-site fitness centers and other amenities that promote wellness in the workplace. Others send their remote employees monthly or yearly stipends to build a great work environment at home. A comfortable working environment is the key to a productive workforce. Employees are more likely to be satisfied and stay with the company if they have a pleasant atmosphere in which to work.
7) Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion
Diversity and inclusion are important parts of a great company culture that all members of a team should prioritize.
(76%) of people cite a diverse workforce as a key consideration when assessing businesses and job offers.
This is because diversity helps to bring in new perspectives and ideas, which can lead to better decision-making. Companies should champion diversity, equity, and inclusion to create better workplaces and better products. Companies can make a difference by hiring diverse talent, promoting diversity, and leveraging the benefits of inclusion. They can also address unconscious bias and advocate for new policies that promote equality.
8) Create team building activities
Team building activities are important for several reasons. They help build stronger bonds between members of the team. These activities also help to break down barriers for teams to form new connections, and they also allow for people to express themselves in a way that is not always possible at work.
A good team building activity should be able to do these things - it should be engaging and fun, but it should also have some deeper meaning.
9) Encouraging employee feedback
A company can encourage their employees to give feedback by making it easy for them to do so. They can make it a habit by setting up systems that encourage employees to provide feedback, such as surveys and questionnaires. This will make it easier for employees because they won’t have to find the time or courage to ask for feedback on their own. They will also feel more confident in giving feedback when they know that there are systems in place that allow them to do so anonymously.
Build company culture through online team building activities
One of the best ways to create a vibrant company culture in a remote-first world is by using online team building activities. This will not only allow employees to bond with each other but also help them deal with loneliness and isolation.
There are many online team building activities that can help build company culture. Some of these activities include online scavenger hunts, bingo, trivia games, and TV game show-inspired virtual games.. Bar None Games has the best online games and trivia to help you build a vibrant culture, even when employees are in different parts of the world.
