In today's job market, culture is more than just flexible work options and a few perks—it's the unique identity of your organization, and it plays a pivotal role in attracting and retaining top talent. Culture defines who you are, what you value, your core mission, and your beliefs and it's essential for keeping employees engaged and happy. However, creating and maintaining this culture requires a unified effort from leadership, working together to embody and sustain it.
A study by Built In reveals that 47% of job seekers cite culture as the primary reason for leaving their current positions. Moreover, Centric HR reports that replacing employees can cost between 6-9 months' salary, factoring in recruiting, training expenses, knowledge gaps, and new salaries.
Great leadership is fundamental to building a successful business, but have you considered the significant role your leadership team plays in driving cultural change? With employee satisfaction with leadership on a downward trend—dropping 8% over the past four years according to WorkBuzz data—it’s clear that workplace culture needs to be a top priority for your leaders.
Culture Impacts Employee Engagement
Improving employee engagement is not a quick fix; it requires cooperative effort, time, and investment, all rooted in a strong workplace culture. Gettysburg College estimates that people spend one-third of their lives working, so having a personal connection to work is crucial. If the culture doesn’t support employees, it leads to disengagement and resignations, which negatively impact business costs.
WorkBuzz Chief Technology Officer Lewis North says, "I am a big believer that company culture is a key driver of engagement and overall business success. As a leader, you should be promoting a healthy work/life balance; showing empathy and understanding when people are confronted with life challenges. One output of the pandemic is that it humanized us."
Culture Impacts Customer Service
Ever heard the phrase “Feel good, do good”? In a business setting, this is especially true. Positive employee attitudes stem from a strong company culture. Employees who feel valued project this positivity in their work, which is crucial for customer or client-facing roles. According to CultureWise, employees are more likely to provide excellent customer service, helping answer questions, solve problems, and address concerns effectively in a positive culture. This builds strong rapport and encourages repeat business. In fact, according to a Gallup survey, companies with engaged employees outperform those without by 202%.
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3 Ways Leadership Can Play Their Part in Building a Strong Culture
1. Active Listening and Action
According to a study by Gallup, employees who feel heard are 4.6 times more likely to feel empowered to perform their best work. However, leaders shouldn’t assume that staff automatically feel listened to. It’s essential for leaders to actively listen and elevate employees by implementing listening strategies such as regular one-to-one meetings and utilizing employee feedback tools. But merely gathering feedback is not enough. According to Forbes, organizations that take meaningful action based on employee feedback have higher engagement levels than those that do not.
2. Recognize Great Work Often
You may think your employees know you value them but according to a study by Officevibe, 82% of employees feel that their efforts aren't adequately recognized which can lead to disengagement and increased turnover. It’s for managers to jump from one project to the next without reflecting, but employees need to know their contributions make a difference. By recognizing their efforts, you empower your staff to exceed expectations. In fact, Harvard Business Review has found companies that prioritize employee recognition have seen a 41% increase in individual performance.
3. Be a Role Model
A role model in the workplace inspires employees by demonstrating honesty, perseverance, confidence, and positivity. According to Forbes, role models can inspire employees by up to 59%. By setting a good example as a leader, you create a more positive atmosphere, foster increased motivation, and encourage open communication. As WorkBuzz Head of Culture Dawn Smedley puts it, "As a leader, you inspire others by role-modeling the behaviors and values you want to see more of. The more you do this, the more you see others pick up on how you are responding and behaving, and it will get repeated."
Leadership's role in enhancing workplace culture is crucial, but this should be done in harmony with regular employee feedback. This is where WorkBuzz can help!
Our platform offers a flexible, easy-to-use survey tool that provides insights into employee wants, needs, company highlights, and areas for improvement, enabling your business to grow and thrive. Book a demo with us today to see how our platform works and how we can customize it to meet your business needs.