5 Ways to Build a Thriving Team Culture
One of the most powerful tools you have in growing your company is your people. Creating culture, like personal character, is an essential factor for businesses and brands today. To reach your goals externally, you have to build a strong foundation and thriving culture internally.
Here are 5 simple and effective ways to build and sustain a thriving team culture.
Co-create core values and goals with your team
One of the most important factors in bringing an organization together is co-creating core values with your team. Ask yourself and your team: What makes the company unique? What defines and inspires your team? When values are developed in a thoughtful and intentional way, employees concentrate on delivering better results.
Make your values authentic, and once your values are in place, map those values and the company's goals into an actionable plan. With clear goals in mind, everyone can effectively work on accomplishing those goals and know how their work contributes to those goals.
Build a foundation of empowerment and accountability
Creating a culture of empowerment and accountability is critical. People will often just go through the motions when they don’t feel empowered or valued in their workplace. Treating one another with respect and setting clear expectations encourages employees to problem-solve, strategize, and collaborate without fear. In this way, the group becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Great teamwork is essential to any vibrant company culture. By creating a team that’s empowered to make their own decisions, your business will thrive. The reason a culture works is everyone understands that they have respect and autonomy to do their job.
Embrace diverse perspectives
Creating a positive customer experience is the key to a successful business. Embracing diversity of thought, experiences, and points of view always brings you to an outcome that is richer and more authentic. Beyond using and consulting your data to understand your audience’s needs, it’s important to instill pride around reinventing and improving customer experience. For example, have a regular program to teach and encourage employees to appreciate the differences between the cultures and generations, and acknowledge diverse perspectives. Make sure everyone is included in team discussions and decisions, and ensure, and adapt your style as needed to accomplish your company’s goals.
Take risks and use mistakes as an opportunity to grow
A culture that’s open to risk gives people an opportunity to learn and leads to innovation. Risk-taking should be rewarded as a part of what defines great work and the creative process. At its best, taking risks is about allowing your team to become more profitable and productive as they stretch in new areas. Reward behaviors that show a willingness to learn and grow. Provide employees with experiences that will challenge their thinking and their actions. Employees should be empowered to feel supported when mistakes are made and learn along the way. This flexibility demonstrates your trust in your team and in turn their trust in their leader.
Connect with your team and celebrate your company culture
Employees need an environment where they can connect with each other on an ongoing basis. Occasional outings and holiday parties can come across as superficial and don’t often show a true commitment to culture. Engage your employees by finding ways to live and breathe your culture every day. For example, planning and attending company or team retreats, webinars, seminars, and conferences are also great ways to regularly celebrate and encourage culture. For example, the Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women hosts professional meetings, events, and lectures throughout the year. This October, we will be hosting a Business Growth Masterclass with Scott Maskin of SUNation Solar called Taking it to the Next Level: How I grew my company from 0 to 170 employees. In this Masterclass, you will learn how to effectively and successfully grow your team, in both quality and quantity.
What does all of this mean?
Thriving company cultures are born from positive attitudes, collaboration, communication, and new perspectives. By empowering employees to innovate and connect with each other and your customers in authentic ways, you can build a stronger foundation that solidifies your culture for the future. When employees thrive, a company thrives. From leaders to employees to the customer experience, your company culture and values will permeate and positively affect every aspect of your business.