Heading back to the office feeling daunting? It really shouldn’t be like that!
Plenty of people are really looking forward to getting back into the office and enjoying a good gossip by the water cooler.
Whether you’re feeling excited or dreading it, there are a few things you need to nail if you want to make your company culture really take off.
Why is culture important?
The thing about culture is that it can be a hard thing to change.
It’s very important that you are aware of the things you want, and the things you don’t want.
If something doesn’t fit with what you want your culture to be like, then there’s a strong possibility that it won’t fly, and then your company will be seriously lacking in the ‘cozy’ department.
If you’re not keen on meeting new people or being social or have no interest in meeting new people or being social, then by all means keep doing your job and working all day long until everyone else fancies going home because they’re tired of working anymore.
Transparency
If people know exactly what is going on around them, they can make better decisions and will be more engaged in their work.
It’s not good enough to portray a positive image – if your employees feel like they don’t have absolute transparency into everything that’s happening, then they’re not going to be as happy with their job.
Get to know people
Getting to know people in your office can be as simple as chatting over coffee or choosing the perfect secret Santa gift, but it’s the meaning behind it that makes it special.
Be a human being and not a robot! Be friendly, say ‘hello’, smile – it’s amazing how much better you can feel about going to work when you know people are friendly.
Say something nice
Compliment someone on the work they’ve done, or the way they look, or the food they’ve cooked. It doesn’t have to be big and fancy; it just has to be genuine. It can really make people feel great about themselves and about the work they do for your company. Sites like Swag Bar offer a wide variety of personalized gifts that can leave a long-lasting nice impression.
Be open to change
Technology changes all the time and things can be out of date even if they were built within the last year.
It’s important to stay on top of what’s happening in your industry or field, so it helps if you’re open to change and like having new things thrown at you every now and then.
Make time to connect
Whether it’s a mid-week game of football or a barbecue on a Sunday, find time to connect with people.
Have weekly or monthly events where you gather together as a team and enjoy some food and drinks.
It’s amazing how much better you can feel about your job when you’ve got a little social life going on outside the office walls.
Say thank you
Everyone should feel like they are appreciated for the work that they do.
Saying thank you does not mean giving a pay rise or bringing in treats – it means an email, a note on your computer screen, an honest and heartfelt thank you.
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