How to improve company culture? 47 ways to do it effectively

On a scale from 1 to 10, how do your employees rate your organizational culture? Would you rather qualify it as positive? Toxic? Inexistent? Enhancing a strong and people-centric workplace culture is crucial as it massively impacts your business development and workforce. Now, the question is, how do you improve company culture?

Offering employees perks matters, but this is far from enough. Leading by example, paying attention to details, listening to your team members, implementing collective healthy habits, reflecting your values in the office space design—the list goes on and on. In total, we listed 47 ways to improve corporate culture.

Are you ready to create a thriving work culture? Let’s dive in!

1. Never let your corporate culture develop by itself

One of the most crucial pieces of advice we can give you regarding organizational culture is never letting it develop by itself. The risk is to end up with a culture that doesn’t represent your vision and values and, worse, turns out to be toxic.

👉 Learn more about the importance of workplace culture!

2. Don’t underestimate the power of attention to details

A welcome plant for new joiners, a Christmas gift aligned with the company values for each employee, a little card on your team members’ birthdays… As for customer experience, these small details make all the difference for your workers.

3. Make company culture a big part of your recruitment and onboarding processes

Job applicants should perceive the company’s values from the start, meaning from the first interview. It sets the tone about your expectations and ensures you attract talents with the same values. Once they’ve got the job, your corporate culture should also be a big part of onboarding.

4. Be clear about your values and share them constantly

Everyone in the workplace must be fully aware of your corporate values to have a real impact. Be transparent about what matters to you and what you want to see in your work environment. Share these values regularly, whether verbally during meetings, via e-mail, or physically on your office’s walls.

5. Be strict about your values and act accordingly

Ensure your staff can take you for your word. If you say you value DEIB in the workplace, don’t make decisions that go against it. Also, don’t hire applicants who seem to share values opposite to the ones of the organization. Last, the consequences for people not respecting the company’s policies and acting against the corporate values should be planned.

6. Keep it real and transparent

Don’t sugarcoat things, and be honest with your employees. This helps foster a culture of trust in the workplace. Your staff knows you are genuine and transparent. They trust you to keep them in the loop if a problem occurs and vice versa.

7. Make creating an atmosphere of trust one of your top priorities

Fostering trust in the workplace is one of the backbones of your corporate culture. Trust is the basis of a healthy work environment where people are eager to talk to you about any issues, take initiative, and be more resilient in difficult times. 

8. Develop and promote an employee-first culture

Today, more than ever, building an employee-centric culture is paramount and can be a win-win for everyone. Your team members get to have a better work-life balance and a healthier work environment. Organizations collaborate with a more engaged, loyal, and productive workforce.

👉 Learn more about adopting an employee-centric approach with your workforce!

9. Provide employee assistance programs (EAP)

Employee assistance programs are the perfect example of fostering a people-centric work environment. They can cover many topics, such as mental health support, financial guidance, legal advice, and so on.

10. Set up a “help & be helped” Slack channel

Creating a “help & be helped” Slack channel or group on any other communication platform is a great way to boost team bonding and promote the value of helping each other. Employees can post a message asking for support for a personal or professional matter, such as “My car broke down. Can anybody in the ‘x’ district pick me up tomorrow morning? Coffee is on me!”

11. Apply your values at every corporate level

We talk a lot about employees, but it is important to remember that the corporate values you promote apply to everyone, from top to bottom. Regardless of their position in the company, all coworkers must follow the same rules and do their jobs based on identical values. 

12. Make “leading by example” a rule for everyone

When employees see their manager or colleague taking accountability for their mistakes, it reinforces respect, trust, and connections among the team. Therefore, leading by example is a great practice to implement in your workplace to improve your corporate culture. And again, this applies to everyone.

13. Share your values with the outside world as much as within the workplace

We talk a lot about living up to the company’s values within the workplace but spreading those values outside can be highly beneficial, too. Volunteering initiatives, communication campaigns, partners’ choices… There are many ways to promote and stand by your values on a much bigger scale!

14. Start healthy habits with your teams

Why not encourage your employees to do healthy routines together? For example, you could make starting the day with a 15-minute stretching session a habit for people in the office, and remote team members could have access to free videos. The benefits go beyond your staff’s physical and mental health. They also positively impact their performance!

15. Dedicate time and budget to your employees’ career development

Employees value skill and career development. Creating possibilities for up-skilling and re-skilling and providing (vertical and horizontal) career evolution opportunities should be part of the core pillars of your company culture. 

16. Develop mentoring and job-shadowing

Mentoring and job shadowing are two ways for your team members to discover new areas of expertise and gain knowledge. If you promote a culture where professional and personal growth is essential, enabling this type of opportunity for your staff is amazing.  

17. Support your employees with access to off-site learning opportunities

Attending conferences, getting training stipends, and having a time-off allowance to start new training are all fantastic perks that enable your staff to access key resources and learning opportunities outside the workplace. They are also a great way to support them in developing their skills and knowledge. 

18. Forget about micromanaging practices

There is no room for micromanagement when you want to improve your corporate culture. Micromanaging creates a toxic work environment and cancels all your efforts to enhance a positive culture. Ensure your leaders are properly trained and aware of the psychological effects of micromanagement. 

19. Share valuable content resources regularly

Share blog articles, podcasts, or YouTube videos regularly about setting up the best home office, achieving a better work-life balance/integration, or increasing productivity with your workforce. This will support an employee-centric culture and can lead to positive outcomes for your business (employee performance, retention, presenteeism…, etc.).

20. Create a workplace library

A reading corner in your office (and also virtually) provides your staff a place to switch off for a few minutes or learn more about specific skills or topics. It sets the tone for you regarding how necessary knowledge and employee well-being are. 

21. Set up a dream board in the office

Dream boards are an amazing idea for reinforcing corporate culture, fostering a sense of community, and boosting motivation. They visually showcase your collective aspirations. They encourage creativity, align team goals, enhance communication, and strengthen company culture by focusing on shared visions and personal growth.

💡 Extra tip: You should create an online version so your remote colleagues can participate, too.

22. Bring meaningfulness in your employees’ professional lives

Long gone is the time when people considered only the financial aspect of working. Most employees no longer simply look to cash in a salary at the end of the month. They also want to bring purpose and meaning to their careers. Pushing this aspect is essential to improve your corporate culture.

23. Support your employees’ growth and development with CVCs (Corporate Venture Capital)

When you hire a new talent, you probably value an innovative person, right? Well, with a team of creative and forward-thinking people, it’s most likely that your employees come up with tons of new ideas and projects they want to put into practice. Supporting them with a CVC program is an amazing way to make initiative and innovation part of your corporate culture.

24. Value employee physical and mental health

Promoting healthy practices in and outside the office and helping your staff stay healthy enhances a work environment where employees are considered and valued. This can be done by setting up an on-site fitness gym, creating sports groups, offering sports activity stipends, and so on.

👋 Read our 3 tips on supporting employee mental health effectively!

25. Reflect your corporate culture in your office setup and design

Your values can also be reflected in the physical workplace. For example, bio-philic design boosts employee productivity and well-being while equipping your staff with workplace technology, which echoes innovation and modernity. Creating collaborative areas and community corners in the office fosters a sense of belonging and a team spirit.

26. Provide a resting space for your staff

Many studies are clear about the power of a short daytime nap. It stimulates cognitive performance, increases creativity, and boosts alertness. Setting up a room where your team members can rest and encourage them to have a quick “siesta” can benefit them as much as you! 

27. Allow pets in the workplace

We wrote a whole article on the benefits of welcoming your workers’ furry friends into the office and how to create a workplace pet policy that works for everyone. If you want to boost your employees’ morale and foster a positive work environment, this is definitely something to try (but follow our recommendations before putting it in place!).

28. Plan team-building activities and events

Employees' sense of belonging in the workplace is becoming a growing concern. There are many ways to foster this aspect, but positive and genuine relationships between team members undoubtedly help.

🪩 Discover 17 great social event ideas for work!

29. Set up cross-department events

While team building is key, avoiding silos in your company is no less critical. To prevent this from happening, organizing cross-department events is essential. Regularly gathering people from different backgrounds and with various job, positions is great for fostering interactions and creating respect and trust in the workplace.

30. Organize celebration and recognition events

Don’t underestimate the power of a great company's anniversary party or a yearly recognition event. This type of social gathering profoundly impacts your corporate culture as it is a moment where employees can connect, share stories, build memories, and celebrate together.

31. Celebrate milestones and achievements with a company jingle

Jingles are double-sided. People either love or hate them. Yet, we believe that a cool jingle that plays each time a new milestone is reached is a fun way to recognize each other's work and bond with your team members.

32. Break some formal corporate etiquette

The most talented employees don’t always work on a chair in front of a desk, and the best ideas don’t only pop up in a conventional meeting room. It can. But it is sometimes the opposite. Some people see their creativity blooming and get more confident sharing ideas in a comfortable environment. So, start organizing “lunch and learn” events, take your team to a park for your next meeting, and observe what happens. You might be surprised.

33. Train managers to provide the best leadership style possible

Leaders play a massive role in building and promoting corporate culture. Don’t underestimate the impact of regularly training them. This way, they can learn about new employees’ expectations and management practices that enhance a positive workplace culture.

34. Make the idea of failing a power instead of a bummer

Nobody likes it when an idea or a project flops. Yet, failure is the only way to learn and grow. Not only does this apply to your workers, but it is also valid for your business. Make trying and failing part of your company culture, and you will see your employee engagement increase, satisfaction grow, and your business bloom!

35. Empower your employees with flexible work arrangements

Employee empowerment and autonomy are two strong pillars of a positive workplace culture. One of the best ways to foster these aspects is by enabling flexible work arrangements. These working models allow your staff to manage their schedules, leading to more productivity and a better work-life balance/integration.

36. Provide a WFH allowance

While remote work often reduces office costs when implemented effectively, it usually increases employees’ expenses. By offering work-from-home allowances, you support your team members in covering these new professional costs (home office furniture, electricity bills, technology equipment, and so on).

👉 Read our full article about WFH allowance!

37. Provide in-office perks for employees

In-office perks for employees range from modern technology and resources on-site to local concierge services and free healthy meals. These create a positive, thriving, and people-centric work environment that team members appreciate and look forward to visiting.

38. Review your company’s perks regularly

All perks you offer to your staff must be reassessed regularly to ensure they match their needs and expectations. If you provide a fuel stipend but most of your team members come by public transport or bike, try to figure out what would make more sense for them and make changes accordingly. This shows your workforce that you genuinely want to support them in the most useful way.

39. Create an open, constructive feedback culture

Feedback is as important for employees as it is for managers and people at every other level of the company. Respectful and constructive feedback is essential to creating a workplace culture based on transparency, trust, and development.

40. Insist on the importance of recognition

Lack of recognition is one of the biggest causes of toxic workplace culture and employee disengagement. Educate managers about the importance of recognition and make it part of your values to ensure this key aspect is fulfilled in your organization.

💡 Discover the different types of employee recognition!

41. Be inclusive at all levels of your corporation

Inclusion in the workplace plays a significant role in creating a positive and strong company culture. It must be visible at every level of your organization and at every step of your employee journey, from inclusive hiring practices to career growth opportunities.

42. Provide childcare facilities within the office place

Building on-site childcare facilities is a great way to be more inclusive. Parents no longer have to worry about arriving late at work because they have to drop off their kids before. Not only are they less stressed, but they are also more satisfied and engaged in their jobs, knowing their children are in the same building. It boosts employee experience, making it a lot more enjoyable for them to quickly go and see their little ones during their breaks. 

43. Be fair in all of your practices

For employees, DEI&B (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and belonging) is critical in today’s business world. So, as we highlight the importance of inclusion, the same goes for equity. Ensure you genuinely try to apply fair practices for all, and your company culture will only strengthen.

44. Create a sense of belonging and community in the workplace

Experience a sense of belonging is essential to thrive outside and within the workplace. At work, it makes employees feel that they are in the right place, doing the right job, with the right people. There is no need to say that this acts as a powerful booster for improving your company culture.

45. Create support groups

Everyone experiences ups and downs, and now and then, your staff can feel lost. As you focus on building a culture of trust, employees who have doubts about their careers, their skills, or other aspects will appreciate talking about what’s on their minds in a safe space. Solutions can be found, and sometimes, simply expressing their feelings is enough to clarify what is in their heads.

46. Listen to your employees

Employees being ignored is one of the most harmful things to your corporate culture, and today, more than ever, the words spread (very) quickly. Listening to your team members makes them feel valued and recognized while allowing you to pinpoint areas of progress. Give them a voice, and you will know exactly what to do to improve your company's culture.

📝 Learn how to create the best employee satisfaction questionnaire and discover their thoughts about your current company culture.

47. Don’t take your positive company culture for granted

Building a strong corporate culture takes time, yet it only needs a few faux pas to burst. This is our last tip to improve organizational culture (congratulations if you stayed with us until here!), but it is a crucial one. Constantly promoting your culture is essential to avoid practices that go against your values and vision.

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You are now equipped with 47 ways to improve your company culture, and we hope they will make a true difference in your workplace. Don’t forget to send employee satisfaction surveys to know your staff’s opinions about the current culture. It will give you a starting point to measure progress.

If you want to promote a positive work environment while embracing modern work practices, request a demo of the deskbird.

You’ll discover how we help you manage a hybrid workplace while boosting employee experience (and saving costs)!

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Sources:

• How to Change and Improve Your Company Culture, O.C. Tanner. 
• 43 Company Culture Improvement Ideas (That Actually Work), Thrive Map.
• 21 HR-Approved Ways to Improve Your Company Culture in 2024, Snacknation.