Company culture is difficult to define. Really hard.

But experts agree that the quality of your culture impacts your bottom line more than most other elements.

Get it right, and you will find your business runs well, makes a healthy profit and is a great place to work. Get it wrong, and it can cause problems, big problems.

So, how can you improve your company culture?

1. Assess It Yourself. 



If your business isn't performing as well as you would like, make sure a culture review is on your list of things to change. "Gut feel" comes in a lot here, but other indicators include poor productivity, customer service, declining financial performance and high turnover. Look at the work culture and be honest about whether you have a problem in this area.

2. Ask Your Employees What They Think.



Who's better placed to tell you the hard truths of the work culture than your employees? Ask them what they think! Don't defend the business or yourself and ask them to be honest (i.e. shut up and listen). Doing this will reveal a lot of invaluable information. Make sure you don't focus on any level or department specifically but try to take a snapshot of various employees at every level for a better picture.

3. Ask You Employees How to Fix It.



Staff are best to tell you how to solve problems. As part of the team, put ownership on these employees to make suggestions.

4. Implement.



Take all your feedback and suggestions, pick 2-3 ideas, and quickly implement them. The fact you have asked for their advice and then actioned changes will make an immediate impact in itself on the company culture. Some other changes may take longer, but do not ignore them in the long run.

5. Start Process Again.



Improving your culture is not a one-off task. You must constantly follow these steps every few months to reassess, get feedback, and improve.

Culture is KING. Make sure you take time to review and make changes regularly.

Cheers

Simon Ingleson

CEO/Founder @ RosterElf

Magically Simple Staff Rostering