Top tips for building a strong company culture

Posted 5 Oct '23

Top tips for building a strong company culture

The environment in which we work is so important. No doubt we’ve all experienced working in ‘good’ places and ‘not-so-good’ places. The work environment is one of the top reasons people leave their jobs. There are a lot of good business reasons to focus on creating a positive culture in your company.

A strong and positive company culture is a driving force that can underpin a successful and resilient team. Whether we realise it or not, all companies have a culture. Do you know what your team would say about the culture of your organisation?

Saying you want to have a good culture is easy enough to do, but it can take a time and focus to ensure you develop a supportive and consistent culture among the daily priorities you face in business.

Being aware of your organisation’s culture and making the effort to continuously improve it, is not something that should be ignored. But what are some ways to develop and manage a good company culture? Here are some top tips:

1. Get the basics right - sorting out the basics is critical to establishing solid employment relationships and building credibility, which become the foundation of your company culture. All your people processes – from the very beginning of employment until its end. Some of these basics might include timely communication and getting essential paperwork correct, making sure the first day of employment is well organised and making someone new feel welcome within the team.
2. Be human - once the compliance work is complete, treat people like people, listen and seek to understand. There’s little to be gained by approaching every situation like it’s a courtroom drama or your company is an army.
3. Have a clear strategy - when your business strategy is clear and you communicate this with your team, it will shape your culture. You can hire people who support the strategy, team members will know what to expect and what is expected of them, and management can be genuine.
4. Manage problems swiftly - allowing behaviour that is at odds with the company's values and culture is incredibly damaging, no matter how good a person is at their job. Deal with issues quickly and ethically and stay focussed on the wider team. And remember point 2 above!
5. Be consistent and stay true - a good culture will help carry the company through tough and turbulent times. It will need you, as the leader to keep supporting your team. Stick to your principles, maintain standards, and resist looking for shortcuts when the pressure is on.
6. Seek to influence culture not own it – Culture is never just created management or HR. Don’t confuse strong culture with uniformity. Diversity is an essential aspect of a thriving, supportive company culture, and it's a cornerstone of any innovative business. Not everyone will necessarily like your company but it’s worth holding onto if it is not toxic or damaging.

Remember, company culture is organic, built by a team, and influenced by many things, never just one department or individual. Business leaders can seek to lead and influence culture, but they can’t create it on their own.

We can help with developing your organisation culture with our HR Partner Service. Contact us today for an initial free consultation and discover how our HR Service can help drive your business forward. Phone: 02 6921 5444 or email accountants@wdf.com.au

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