The phrase ‘great company culture’ is one we see everywhere – especially plastered all over job advertisements – but do we really know what company culture means? Great company culture consists of an employer and employees who hold the same/similar values, work together on decision-making, and really make sure everyone in the group is heard. It’s a feeling of unity and strength amongst your team – which is something all team leaders dream of.
When your company starts, and you find your core team, great company culture and chemistry should flow naturally. Voices are easily heard in meetings, decisions are made as a group, and outings and company lunches are easy to arrange. But when you begin to grow, how do you maintain the vibe you worked so hard to create?
At Beam, we’re going to look at 5 tips to help maintain a strong company culture as your company begins to flourish.
1 – Make Sure Candidates are Onboard with Your Values in the Hiring Process
You started your business with a passion to do great things, and you’ve found your core team who have got you this far. To help maintain this, the key is hiring a candidate who not only has the right skills, but also holds the same values as you. If an employee is passionate about what they’re doing, the better they’ll do it. So, if you’re working in a tech company, it goes without saying that a room full of tech lovers are the right candidates for you. Someone who isn’t “all that into” tech and talks about how ridiculous it’s become may not be a great fit for the role.
2 – Continuously Upskill Your Employees
A happy employee is one who is always learning new things and feels challenged. Whilst your business grows, employees may be worried about their own progression, especially if they’re spending lots of time training up new starters. Put time aside for your employees, whether that be an hour a week or a couple of hours staggered across the month. It’s important for employees to know that you care about their development, and that you won’t just forget about them as soon as the business expands more.
3 – Recognise Achievements & Shout from the Rooftop
Shouting from the rooftop maybe a slight exaggeration, but you get the gist! As well as upskilling, employees will feel valued and noticed if their achievements are being celebrated.
Just for a moment: Think about how great it feels when you’ve worked hard and people recognise your achievement. Fantastic, isn’t it? Now, spread that feeling to the rest of your company!
Pro tip: Set goals and challenges for your employees and reward them with company lunches, nights out, or whatever your team likes to do for fun!
4 – Hang Outside of Work Together
Whether your team are office based, hybrid or remote – bring them closer together by having regular social events. If not regular, just whenever you can! Social events put your employees in a relaxed setting where they can talk to their co-workers about anything and everything. This is really important when it comes to maintaining company culture, and as they say, “teamwork makes the dream work!”
5 – Collaborate with your Employees
When decisions about the business are being made, try to include the whole team. Hear what they have to say and get them involved as much as possible. Nothing makes an employee feel more undervalued than a boss who makes decisions without their input – especially if those decisions effect everyone within the company.
Although there will always be a hierarchy within your business, (including managers who make the final decisions), it’s really important to ask your team about their thoughts first. Even if you can’t take all of them onboard at this time, letting them know they’re heard is crucial.
6 – Be Transparent
Transparency is key! Having a boss who’s open and honest is incredibly beneficial for company culture. It stops employees doubting, gossiping and mistrusting you. Transparency works both ways, and you can achieve this by encouraging your team to communicate and share.
Tiny Pulse reported Transparency was the #1 factor contributing to employee happiness.
We hope these tips have helped you whilst your business grows, at Beam we would recommend communicating with your employees about any new changes regarding growth. Ask them if they have any concerns and take everything they have to say onboard.
