Make Your Business a Great Workplace: 5 Tasks to Help Create Change

Transform your workplace atmosphere and boost overall morale

Creating a great workplace isn’t always easy, but it’s definitely worth the effort. A study by Gallup found that highly engaged workplaces see a 41% reduction in absenteeism and a 17% increase in productivity, highlighting the value of a positive work environment.

Here are five essential steps to implement to help create positive change in the workplace:

1. Define the Culture You Want to Create

• Clarify your vision: What kind of environment do you want your employees to work in? Do you aim for a collaborative atmosphere or a more competitive one? Are you focused on innovation or customer service? Clearly defining your desired culture helps set the tone for your organization.
• Develop a mission statement and values: Once you have a clear idea of the culture you want to create, craft a mission statement that reflects this vision. Establish core values that everyone in your organization can embrace. A study published in the Harvard Business Review found that companies with a strong sense of purpose outperform their peers in both stock price and revenue growth (Kanter, 2011).
• Address policy conflicts and promote team building: Identify any existing policies that conflict with your desired culture and establish new ones that support cultural alignment. Encourage employees to socialize and build relationships outside of work through team-building exercises and company outings.

2. Assign Clear Roles and Responsibilities

• Create detailed job descriptions: One of the most crucial aspects of creating a great workplace is ensuring that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities. Start by developing clear and concise job descriptions for each position in your organization, accurately reflecting each role’s duties.
• Set clear expectations: Establish expectations for each employee regarding work ethic, attendance, and attitude. Communicating these expectations clearly from the beginning helps prevent misunderstandings and conflicts down the road.
• Maintain regular communication: Schedule regular one-on-one meetings with each employee to check on their progress and provide feedback. Additionally, hold periodic team meetings to keep everyone informed about company news and updates.
• Encourage accountability: By clearly defining roles and responsibilities, you create a workplace where everyone knows how they can contribute to the organization. According to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), clear communication of expectations is one of the key drivers of employee engagement (SHRM, 2020).

3. Set Measurable Goals and Objectives

• Break down goals into manageable steps: Setting measurable goals and objectives helps track progress and ensures everyone works toward the same goal. Start by identifying your organization’s overall objectives, then break them into smaller, more manageable goals.
• Involve employees in goal-setting: Engage your employees in team goal-setting exercises and ask for their input on what they consider realistic and achievable goals. Involving them in this process builds support and commitment to achieving the goals.
• Create a timeline: Establish a timeline for each goal and ensure everyone knows it. This helps maintain focus and ensures that progress is being made. Research from the Journal of Applied Psychology suggests that setting specific, challenging goals can significantly enhance employee performance and motivation (Locke & Latham, 2002).

4. Encourage Open Communication and Feedback

• Create an open-door policy: Fostering an environment where employees feel comfortable communicating openly with their managers builds trust and mutual respect. Encourage open communication by implementing an open-door policy and ensuring employees know they can voice their concerns or suggestions.
• Solicit feedback regularly: Actively seek feedback from your employees and encourage innovation and creativity in the workplace. Research by Google’s Project Aristotle found that psychological safety, or the belief that one can speak up without risk of punishment, is crucial for high-performing teams (Rozovsky, 2015).

5. Celebrate Successes and Learn from Failures

• Recognize achievements: Celebrating your employees’ successes shows that you appreciate their hard work, which helps build morale and motivation in the workplace. Consider establishing a reward and incentive system to recognize employees who go above and beyond their duties.
• Promote a culture of accountability: Encourage employees to take ownership of their mistakes and help them learn from their failures. By doing so, you create a culture of continuous improvement and growth.

Creating a great workplace doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, effort, and commitment. But by following these five steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating a healthy, productive, and positive work environment.