Creating a culture that will empower employees

You don’t have to look far to find advice on what you should and should not do when you run a business, but it’s often the less tangible things that are overlooked and which could make all the difference both to morale and your bottom line.

Ryan Ward, Director of Office Monster, explains how making the culture of your business a priority can turn an unproductive, hostile and unpleasant environment into an energetic, efficient and welcoming place to work benefitting employees and customers.

A comfortable workspace

Ryan comments: “There is nothing worse than getting up on a morning and wishing you were doing anything else other than going to work. Let’s be honest, your focus isn’t on doing a good job, it’s on getting through the day ahead without bursting into tears or walking out!

“As an office-based employee, when you are sat at a desk for more than eight hours a day, the surroundings in which you work become really important. Dark and dingy buildings with grey walls and no natural light are never going to energise a team.

“Compare that with bright walls, colourful pictures, lots of lush green plants and light spaces and you will see a notable difference. All you need to do is look at the body language of those sitting around you to get the feedback you need.”

Setting an example

“It’s not all about the décor or whether you have an empty desk policy, it’s also about what behaviours you do and do not reward. It’s about empowering your employees so that they know they are valued and that they have more than ‘just a job’.  

“Making sure that you have clear guidelines in place in terms of what is expected of employees will set the standards. It will also mean that younger or less experienced colleagues can learn by example when they see others progress or receive reward for good practice.”

Creating a culture

“When you take the time to think about what you want to be, and then communicate this to the wider business, you have the foundations for a successful company that has shared goals, with all employees working towards the same targets.

“The culture of a company should be reflective of the business. As such, it needs to be built on values, objectives and targets for the future. Only then will it be something that evolves over time and that can be embraced by others. If it is forced, it will come across that way and will do more harm than good.  

“When you have an environment whereby people can be themselves and feel that they are part of something special, with the necessary support and structure in place, you can expect to see huge benefits. The challenge is to put the theory into practice.”