In the busyness of everyday life, “workplace culture” might get pushed to the back burner.

Claire Hastwell, the content program manager at Great Place To Work, has seen from many leaders that a lack of time is the main reason they deprioritize the employee experience. They care about giving their team members a supportive, positive place to work, but they just don’t have time to properly measure and improve it.

If this resonates with you as a leader, you’ll be glad to know that improving your company culture doesn’t have to be a big undertaking. In fact, you can positively impact your workplace by making a few small habit changes. In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we outline the habit shifts that Hastell says can significantly change your workplace for the better.

  1. Let employees know they belong. Hastwell says that when people feel a sense of belonging to their organization, they are three times more likely to look forward to coming to work and five times likelier to want to stay at the company for a long time. Leaders shouldn’t just appreciate the work that employees complete – they should also appreciate the employees as people. This can humanize workplace relationships, which can foster respect and belonging.
  2. Promote collaboration. When employees feel like they are free to express their ideas, they are 31 times more likely to think their workplace is an innovative one, Hastwell says. Try saving the last 10 minutes of every staff meeting for an open discussion.
  3. Encourage peer-to-peer recognition. People like to hear praise from their boss, but it’s also important to hear it from their coworkers. Try inviting more peer-to-peer recognition with promo. Employees could thank a colleague who goes above and beyond with branded company merch like coffee mugs or journals.
  4. Create a sense of meaning. Great workplaces are values-led, Hastwell says, which means they use their beliefs and principles to lead the company, rather than just rules or policies. This can help foster pride and also prevent a toxic culture from forming. In a toxic culture, she says employees don’t feel engaged and habits like gossip take hold.

Small daily changes can make a big difference in your workplace. You don’t need to conduct any sweeping overhaul or roll out any complex program. Instead, make an effort to focus on the habits above. When you work to give people a sense of belonging, encourage collaboration and lead the way for more recognition, you can bring out the best in employees and make your business an inspiring place to work.  

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: Claire Hastwell is the content program manager at Great Place To Work.