3 Ways to Improve Your Company’s Culture

If you want to keep your best employees around, you have to do more than just pay them a decent salary and offer paid vacation time. You also have to create a company culture where your staff members feel comfortable and happy. If the corporate culture is strong, your team members will be excited to come into the office every day and give it their all. Here are three ways to improve your company’s culture:

1. Let Your Employees Interview
An effective way to create a great company culture is to let your team members interview job candidates, according to Jeff Boss, a leadership coach and author of “Navigating Chaos: How to Find Certainty in Uncertain Situations.”

“First, it conveys that everyone’s perspective counts and that they have a say in the company’s culture,” Boss explained in Entrepreneur. “Second, it screens the job applicant for fit because not everyone takes an interview seriously when conducted by a 22-year-old, for example.”

2. Encourage Employees to Take More Breaks
According to a 2014 survey conducted by Staples, more than 25 percent of employees said they don’t take a break at work other than lunch. It’s up to you as a business owner to encourage your team members to take extra breaks throughout the day. A good way to do this is to provide a well-stocked and comfortable break room.

“This survey indicates employers are encouraging employees to take a break, but they need to back that up by providing a well-stocked break room that encourages employees to step away and not feel tied to their work,” said Tom Heisroth, senior vice president of commercial and enterprise sales at Staples Advantage.

3. Invest in Training
Most employees don’t want to stay in their positions for forever – they want to learn new skills and advance in their careers. It’s important to support their career development and invest in different training programs. Schedule regular meetings with your staff members and ask them where they see themselves in five years. Write down their answers in personalized notepads and help them achieve these goals. For instance, if your marketing coordinator wants to become a manager, offer training to help develop his or her leadership skills. If your team members know you care about their career development, they will be more positive and energized at work.