Unwrap the Power of People: Create a Positive Workplace Culture in Time for Christmas!
Culture’s a funny word that can mean different things to different people, and in the context of your workplace, what exactly are we talking about?
Well, workplace culture is all about the shared values, beliefs, behaviours and norms that shape your working environment and it’s significant for several reasons.
You want your people to be engaged, right? That’s how they’ll come to work to do their very best.
Positive workplace culture goes an incredibly long way towards achieving this.
When your people feel aligned to your values and mission, they are more likely to be committed to, and enthusiastic about their work.
So it follows, that when people are motivated and enjoy their work, they are going to be more productive, more innovative and will be more likely to stay with you.
Not only that, when word gets out people will want to come and work for you! Huzzah!
When it comes to the December holiday season, this can be a real catalyst to build on positive change in workplace culture.
So what can your business build on this Christmas to create a positive workplace culture?
Morale Boost!
Try as we might to avoid them, but we do get inundated with cheesy movies on the telly not to mention the John Lewis ad… it all brings a sense of togetherness and celebration.
There’s a real opportunity here to boost employee morale by acknowledging and celebrating festivities and having a bit of fun.
Top tip: Communicate effectively with everyone!
Team Bonding
Parties, Secret Santa, Christmas meals… these can help to build on bonding situations that encourage a certain strengthening of relationships.
Just remember though, for some people, Christmas can be a difficult and lonely time so make sure you act with sensitivity – a gentle word to let people know you care can be invaluable.
Top tip: Encourage collaboration!
Gratitude
There’s a sense of encouragement at this time of year to embrace the spirit of giving and gratitude.
As an employer, it’s a great time to express your gratitude to your team for their work and contribution. It may not be an envelope stuffed with cash, but meaningful and earnest thanks can go a really long way to making someone feel appreciated – so make sure you write those cards yourself and think about what you are going to say.
Top tip – lead by example!
Reflection
As the year rumbles to a close, lots of people use this time to look back on the year they’ve had and think about goals for the next year.
You can apply this to the workplace as well. What things do you and the team want to achieve next year? Have a chat with everyone and come up with some collective workplace ideas that will boost your culture and togetherness.
Top tip: Promote a sense of belonging!
Inclusive and Diverse
It’s not just Christmas in December and December isn’t the only month with cultural and religious celebrations… embracing and recognising diverse traditions in the workplace is not only interesting, it promotes inclusivity and cultural awareness, so find out and learn what other people are getting up to!
Top tip! Embrace diverse traditions!
Workplace culture is a powerful force that influences your teams engagement, performance, retention, not to mention the overall success of your business.
The holiday season provides a unique opportunity to leverage the positive energy, camaraderie, and traditions associated with this time of year to enhance workplace culture.
By combining the significance of culture with the catalyst of the holiday season, you can take your workplace culture to the next level by creating a more vibrant and fulfilling work environment for your people.