Positive workplace culture more important than ever

A positive workplace culture is very important to have in a workplace. However, a positive workplace culture is more important now than ever due to the added pressures of COVID-19 in the workplace.

Defining a workplace culture can be difficult, although it is best described as the overall personality of a workplace.

Essentially, a positive workplace culture is made up of values, attitudes and behaviours that improve teamwork, increase staff morale, boost productivity and effectiveness and enhance staff retention.

In establishing a positive workplace culture, leaders or managers must first recognise the signs of a poor workplace culture, or what is causing resistance in the workplace.

These signs may include:

• management making decisions behind closed doors;
• sharing limited or no information with employees;
• rewarding bad or unethical behaviour; and
• failing to acknowledge relevant issues affecting the workplace.

If the above signs are ignored for a substantive length of time, they often lead to low staff morale, increased turnover, decreased productivity, and may even affect patient care.

Ways to improve workplace culture and foster a positive, safe and encouraging environment for staff include the following. 

Define your vision and values

When a clear vision and values are defined and practiced, staff are privy to how they can contribute to the success of the workplace.

Further, staff are aware performance expected and its influence on operational excellence.

Reward and recognise excellence

Once staff are aware of the central values of the practice, it is important to begin rewarding/acknowledging those staff members that embody those values. As a result, this will create a blueprint for other staff to follow, as they will want to be recognised for their efforts.

it is particularly important to regularly compliment staff members for their hard work and let them know that they are not going unnoticed.

Communicate clearly and effectively

When there is consistent communication with staff about workplace objectives and performance, it allows the workplace to operate at its optimum level.

When staff understand what is required of them and given the relevant support and resourcing to fulfil those expectations, they will feel a sense of ownership. This will also contribute to feelings of loyalty and dedication to their role and the workplace.

Promote transparency

Transparency is incredibly valuable in a workplace. It assists in ensuring that both the employer and employees’ expectations are set appropriately and carried out.

Trust within the workplace provides the foundations for clear, open and frequent communication, creating a high level of engagement.

Hire for the right fit

When recruiting and hiring staff, employing candidates with exceptional talent is always the priority, to increase the competitive advantage of the workplace.

However, whilst that is important, it is also equally as important to analyse whether a candidate will fit well into the culture of the workplace, and make for a well-rounded team player.

While screening candidates, make sure to search for the traits and values that are important to the practice. Consequently, the workplace culture will come together seamlessly.