6 Keys to Cultivating a Healthy Work Culture Here are six values that I use to cultivate a healthy culture in the workplace.
By Justin A Staples Edited by Chelsea Brown
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
"I would never work this hard for money," Chuck said as he wiped the sweat from his brow. He was in the middle of an exhausting, week-long service trip. He was using his construction skill set, caring for neighbors in need and doing it all with others who were highly motivated to look beyond themselves.
No one made a dime. But some elderly folks on a fixed income were given a ramp to get into their home. A teachers' lounge in a poor, urban area was renovated. A disabled man was gifted a day on the lake fishing with new friends.
Why do people who volunteer report being 42% happier than those who don't? Many factors exist that are worth considering, exploring and implementing. Is it possible that the ethos of happy volunteerism could be cultivated in a healthy workplace environment?
I believe it is. And must be. The average person will spend 90,000 hours of their life working. If you work 40 hours a week, you'll spend over 35% of your waking hours at work. Entrepreneurs and business owners have a massive opportunity to do more than make money. You can tap into people's inherent desire for dignity and respect — and unleash goodness and beauty into this world that will have a more significant impact than money ever could. Here are six values that I use to cultivate a healthy culture in the workplace:
Related: 4 Ways Leaders Can Foster a Positive Company Culture
1. Business may not be personal, but it always involves people
The old adage says, "It's not personal; it's just business." The adage hasn't aged well. Of course, leaders need to have boundaries within their own lives and business. You can't be everyone's best friend, counselor, coach, boss and more. You also cannot bear the responsibility others have for the decisions they make.
Hard decisions cannot be avoided. But that does not mean hard decisions need to be made with a harsh tone or without sensitivity. To create a healthy culture, leaders must understand that their decisions impact human beings.
And that has a ripple effect that reverberates beyond and within the company. The client you need to cut ties with may have a family that depends on your business. The emotional employee you need to correct will impact their coworkers. That will affect their productivity and motivation.
2. Open and honest communication builds security
If you buttoned your shirt wrong today, how would you want to be treated? How would you feel if you made it to the end of the day and realized your shirt was all messed up for every meeting?
And what if you knew that everyone around knew, but no one cared enough to take the risk to say something? Let that example be a framework for approaching communication in your business.
People need to know if they are performing or behaving in ways that are unhelpful or counterproductive. Some people may be unteachable. Most desire to be built up by someone they trust and respect. When they are, they are grateful that someone cared enough about them to help them realize their potential.
3. Empower people to work in their strengths
One of the most inspiring aspects of humanity is our diversity. Some people are astounding athletes. Others can administrate until the cows come home. Where would you be without that person with a nurturing heart you've leaned on?
When people are empowered to work in areas of strength, magic happens. When they are forced to fulfill tasks disconnected from how they're wired, frustration ensues. For everyone. It's like Einstein is credited for saying, "Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."
Empower people to spend the majority of their time in areas of strength. Give them grace when they need to function in areas of weakness. No one's perfect. Everyone can be a genius.
Related: Why Organizational Culture (And Employee Communications) Should Matter To You
4. Trust
Don't let the simplicity and overuse of this term cause the value to become white noise. Trust is essential. And while it's simple, that doesn't mean it's easy. Developing deep trust within a company and toward clients is remarkably difficult. Here are two keys I've found to create a culture of trust in my business:
Vulnerability: Renowned business leader, Patrick Lencioni, says that vulnerability is paramount to a healthy team. That requires being willing to open up and share your weaknesses, fears and/or concerns. We prefer to present ourselves as strong, to feel self-sufficient. Many fear that if they let their weaknesses be known, they will be exploited, shamed or minimized in some way. But the opposite often happens when we are honest about our limitations. People tend to grow in respect — and trust.
Transparency: Just own it. If you made a mistake or straight up messed up — own it. If an issue is more complicated, as they usually are, acknowledge what you can. People trust people with enough self-awareness and thoughtfulness to admit their mistakes. Within a team context, when a leader apologizes, it sets a tone that failure does not mean fatality. It also demonstrates respect.
5. Respect
Everyone who interacts with your business must be treated with dignity and respect, from the CEO to the contracted window washer. While some tasks may be menial and some vocations may require more expertise — it does not follow that the value of the people who engage in those tasks or vocations is tied to them.
What you most value will reverberate throughout your organization. When the top performer isn't given preferential treatment, and the entry-level employee is honored by the boss, people will know that they — and others — matter because of who they are. Not what they achieve.
6. People are not transactional
When money needs to be made, clients satisfied and projects completed, it's challenging to remember that, ultimately, every business is a people business. And people are not transactional. That is, no one's purpose in life is to make you money or bolster your brand.
People are not objects to be squeezed for production, nor are they obstacles on the path to glory. There's enough goodness in this world for us all to share.
Don't minimize the beauty of your neighbors by thinking they are a means to an end. It creates a toxic environment that will repel the kind of people you want to work with.
Related: Strategies for Cultivating a Winning Work Culture
Let your light shine on your corner of the world
Why should Chuck have his best "work" experience volunteering? It doesn't have to be that way. As entrepreneurs, we can cultivate environments where people thrive. Sure, let's make some money along the way. Bills have to be paid.
We can honor the people we work with, empower them to utilize their strengths, embrace open and honest communication, help others reach their full potential and operate from a disposition of respect. When we do, people will produce goodness that can add a little fresh air to a world that needs to take a deep breath.
