Building a Strong Company Culture in Your Business

Strong company culture not only fosters commitment, creativity, and resilience in your team members but allows you to build empowered teams that will help you achieve your business goals more easily and quickly. Something we have seen again and again is that for many small businesses, building a positive culture can feel challenging when the focus is on getting things done, often with limited resources. We have experience of working with and for multiple SMEs and can tell you first hand that building a positive culture in your business should be top of your priority list. Your success and growth is very heavily dependent on the people working within your organisation. 

There are a number of reasons why creating a positive work environment matters. Here are some below:

Benefits of a Positive Company Culture

1. Higher Employee Engagement and Retention
   A well-defined and positive culture creates a space where employees feel a sense of belonging, empowerment and value. This is the only way they will genuinely want to contribute to the success of your business. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs can be considered, and while different people respond to different motivations, the most important thing of all is the sense of belonging, empowerment and value. A mutual respect is what you need to encourage not just between yourself and your employees, but also amongst your employees. Without respect and feeling valued a team member will never commit to the work you need them to carry out, or suggest improvements and ideas. It is very likely for a small business that each team member often plays multiple roles, so they become integral to your operations. Not only will this foster new ideas and perspectives that will benefit your business but will also produce an engaged and loyal employee base, reducing employee turnover and the ongoing need for retraining.

2. Enhanced Productivity
   Happy employees are definitely more likely to be productive. When your team works in an environment that supports collaboration, values their input, and provides clear direction, it creates a more efficient and focused workplace. We know that small business resources are often stretched thin, and this can be that extra boost that really makes a difference in the success of your business.

3. Stronger Client Relationships
   Employees who enjoy where they work are also more likely to provide exceptional service to customers and even build better relationships with suppliers and other stakeholders. The benefits of this can be seen throughout your business. Employees who feel respected and valued are more motivated to deliver a memorable experience to clients, enhancing your reputation, building your brand and fueling growth.

Key Strategies to Foster a Positive Company Culture

1. Start with Your Core Values
This will be a part of your branding but relates very heavily to your internal company culture. Branding is not just about what the outside can see, but you should be able to experience your brand from within. You want to think about what your business stands for and let those values guide how you build your team culture. Whether you prioritise innovation, collaboration, creativity, or customer-first service, ensure that these values are embedded in your hiring processes, daily operations, internal communication and employee experience and expectations. This alignment gives everyone a sense of purpose and direction.

2. Prioritise Open Communication
Communication is absolutely key within any business, but making sure that you build this into your business from the start will be of great benefit. Openness and honesty is vitally important and can go a long way in encouraging honest feedback and fostering trust. Schedule regular check-ins or team meetings to discuss not only projects but also any potential challenges your team may be facing. When employees feel heard and supported, they are more engaged and motivated. We very much recommend setting up your project management processes that encourage this feedback loop in the form of agile project management. You can find out more about this in our blog The Power of Agile Project Management for SMEs.

3. Invest in Professional Development
You want to foster an environment where your employees are able to build with your company. Create opportunities for your employees to grow and specialise in areas that they are most interested in. This could be with formal training, mentorship, or even access to resources for self-improvement. Offering the time for professional development shows that you are invested in their growth and success, which helps them feel more connected to the business. We would never recommend making employees pay for this training, which is something we have seen in the past.

4. Recognise and Reward Contributions
Small gestures of appreciation can make a big difference. Recognising hard work publicly in team meetings or highlighting achievements in a newsletter. These however must not be ‘empty appreciations’, this should also be reflected in promotion opportunities, and additional responsibility if wanted. We also suggest rewarding dedication through such things as bonuses and time off. You would also be surprised how far a simple ‘thank you’ or ‘great job’ goes. This helps employees feel valued and encourages continued effort. 

5. Cultivate a Work-Life Balance
We believe a positive culture respects that employees have commitments and interests outside of work, and specifically not just responsibilities for children but also parents, other family members, and even pets. If it is feasible for you, offer flexible hours or work-from-home options, and encourage your team to prioritise mental and physical health and well-being. Promoting balance fosters loyalty and reduces burnout, which is crucial in a smaller business where each person’s role is integral to success. We have come across situations where employees are worried about taking breaks for doctors appointments or even funerals. Therefore we really do recommend being as flexible as possible. We know you will get the benefits of this in the long run.

6. Build a Sense of Community
Even as a small business you can create a sense of community through team-building activities, informal gatherings, or shared spaces where employees can connect. We do our best to avoid forced fun, but find out what your employees like to do, what are their hobbies, what new things do they want to try. You could even have a monthly recommendation based event where people can try a new activity. These interactions outside of the typical work environment build stronger relationships, making your workplace feel more like a community than a hierarchy, and this sense of belonging can very much translate into higher productivity and creativity.

Making Company Culture a Priority

Developing a strong and positive company culture may seem daunting, especially when resources are limited, but the payoff is undeniable, especially in the long term. By fostering an environment where people feel valued, respected, trusted, challenged, and inspired, you won’t just be creating a place to work but building a workplace where people are excited to contribute. This positivity will be seen in every client interaction and every project delivered, giving your business the edge it needs to thrive.

We are highly supportive of the living wage here at Totemo Consulting. We try to encourage all of our clients to work toward this. To find out more about the living wage we will have a blog coming up soon, but in the meantime check out the Living Wage Foundation.

As a separate note we want to say how hard it is for smaller businesses, or businesses with a fast growth strategy in terms of liquidity. We understand that some of these recommendations do require monetary investment. There are always alternatives, and as long as you create a positive culture using as many of these recommendations as possible you will be setting yourself up for long term success. If you want to speak to us about specific recommendations for you and your business requirements then do get in touch by calling 07908991094.