A toxic company culture can have adverse effects on every part of your business. Your human resources department will have a hard time hiring candidates when your culture has a history of being toxic, your current employees will be unproductive, and no one will work together to grow your company. Detoxifying your company culture is the first step in being able to hire world-class talent, but it’s not as easy making a few changes and hoping they stick. Learning to be more proactive against issues in your workplace and creating focused strategies will help make your company one that everyone wants to work for.
I recently talked about engaging employees through the use of employee engagement surveys and although those are extremely helpful it’s not enough. There are a few steps that companies are able to take to start detoxifying their company culture.
Think long-term and not just about quick fixes.
There are a lot of companies who will mask a problem by creating a fun perk. Unfortunately in a toxic environment the feeling of not wanting to work, a decline in productivity, and hating your job don’t go away just because someone throws a party. It’s important to have a long-term solution to fixing issues inside your company. Whether it be policies, toxic management, or a few employees who are destroying the mentality of the whole, think long-term in how to solve these issues.
Obtain buy-in from the majority of our employees.
Company culture isn’t something senior leadership can fix on their own. It’s important that whatever you decide to do you make sure to get the buy-in from the majority of your employees. This is one of the most important aspects of fixing a damaged company culture because it shows that senior leadership is willing to listen and collaborate on what needs to be fixed and how to do it.
Be consistent in fixing your culture.
When attempting to create change and make a positive impact on your company it’s important to be consistent in your efforts. Consistency will show employees that you’re working on fixing certain issues. If you implement a new program, follow through and be as consistent as possible. Inconsistency will show your employees that you aren’t committed to creating a positive impact and change.
Lead by example.
Too often nowadays we are seeing senior leadership involved in some type of scandal. Whether it has to do with the company itself or being unethical outside the workplace, it’s important for leadership to lead by example. The CEO sets the tone of the organization and is held to a higher standard because their actions reinforce the overall culture. It sounds very cliche, but it’s important to be the change you want to see.
There are toxic company cultures all over the place in several different industries. Having a strong company culture can really make or break a candidate’s decision to join your organization.
Culture is all around you from day-to-date operations to the types of organizations your company partners with and donates money to. If your culture is toxic remember these four steps and start walking in the right direction.
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I liked the article, would like to know how really one can create a culture.