Are you struggling with the lack of employee engagement, particularly when interacting with your customers? Do you have some employees who just go through the motions, do only the minimum while your best employees are having to pick up the slack? Well, I understand your frustration and you are not alone.
When I work with my clients, I begin by observing their culture. Is it obvious? What are the employees doing and what are the employees not doing in the customer experience. Are the managers involved in coaching, recognizing and prioritizing what is important? Are employees enthused, have a sense of urgency in demonstrating expectations by showing that they care about their customers and fellow employees.
WHY DOES CULTURE MATTER?
The bottom line? Employee engagement drives growth and employees are more likely to be engaged at work when the environment is a positive one. How you treat your team, how they treat each other, and how your business is perceived all play a part in building a positive work culture. bad company culture will lead to declining performance across your teams, poor customer experience, lower morale, loss of employees and worst of all lower profits for your business.
In other words, your culture is the character of your workplace, made up of the things everyone believes in, the way they act, and what they value. But if your company values aren’t lived out at the top, they’re unlikely to make an impact with the rest of your staff.
10 TOP SIGNS YOU HAVE BAD COMPANY CULTURE
The sooner you notice negative cultural trends; the sooner you can begin to fix it. Here are some common red flags to look out for:
- Your core values aren’t defined- When your core values are unclear or nonexistent, employees may not understand what’s expected of them or how to work towards the company’s mission.
- Managers don’t follow core values- Having company values on a business card, or on a poster isn’t enough—they must be embodied by your ALL leaders.
- New hires don’t stay long – Are you losing employees faster than you can hire new ones? Your new hired can tell if you have a bad company culture and they are not willing to stay and live through it.
- Absentee rates are high – Underlying issues, such as poor management, lack of accountability or working conditions, can leave employees feeling less engaged and motivated to show up for work.
- Employees don’t feel appreciated – One of the biggest signs of bad company culture is a lack of acknowledgement. Failing to acknowledge or reward top performers for a job well done can lead to decreased motivation, productivity, and loyalty.
- Gossip runs rampant – It’s always a red flag when gossip is common in the workplace. Rumors and negative talk can quickly erode trust, damage relationships, and create hostile work environments.
- Your best employees don’t stick around – High turnover among key employees or leaders is a cause for concern, as it suggests they are tired of being taken advantage of and don’t believe things will change soon.
- Are people blaming others? – Everyone makes mistakes—it’s part of being human. However, employees and managers not taking responsibility and the “blame game” among staff is a clear toxic workplace sign.
- Team morale is low – Low morale is a strong sign of bad company culture.It can be caused by many things such as lack of accountability, poor leadership, little or no appreciation, or workload
- Poor communication – Communication is very important and this starts from the top down. When leaders regularly communicate, employees are encouraged to do the same. But if staff feel like they don’t have space to communicate or express themselves, that’s a huge red flag.
HOW TO CREATE A POSITIVE COMPANY CULTURE
The good news is that bad company culture can be improved. Not by putting a band-aid on the problem, but by identifying these issues and taking strategic action. Here are some ways to improve workplace culture and get back on the right track:
Lead by example – Company culture starts from the top. Once your company’s values have been defined, managers and leadership should set an example for employees to follow.
Create open communication channels – Provide multiple avenues for employees to voice their concerns, ideas, and feedback without fear of retaliation. Use weekly team meetings, one-on-ones, and office hours to address any issues early on.
Invest and implement continuous learning – Investing in training and professional development opportunities shows candidates, new hires, and your employees that your organization cares and is committed to their growth and success.
Increase recognition, appreciation and reward achievement – Employee appreciation is a low-cost yet highly impactful strategy for boosting morale, engagement, and retention. People want to know that their efforts are valued. Simple small gestures can go a long way to improving company culture.
Immediately address conflict constructively – Stop tolerating bad behavior and establish a zero-tolerance policy for workplace gossip to maintain a respectful and positive atmosphere. Use confrontation as an opportunity for personal and professional growth, not to air personal grievances.
Seek to gather feedback and act – There are many ways to get feedback from your staff. Some people may feel more comfortable in a one-on-one meeting with their manager, while others may prefer an open discussion in all-hands meetings.
BOTTOM LINE
When it comes to transforming company culture, taking shots in the dark or just hoping it goes away just won’t cut it. If you want happier, engaging employees who’ll stick with you for the long haul then scheduling a FREE One on One Strategy call with John or one of his affordable culture transforming workshops is the right decision. John will give you, your leaders and team, all the tools you’ll need to fix it. Now that would be “MAGICAL”!
Just click the link to schedule your FREE Strategy Call: https://go.oncehub.com/DiscoverySessionCall Do it today so that you will be able to create the experience, business, leaders and team that EVERYONE loves.
John Formica is America’s Customer Experience Coach, team culture expert, keynote speaker, and Top 10 Global Thought Leader and Influencer on Customer Loyalty and Customer Experience. For information on customer experience evaluations and programs, leadership training, how to find and hire great people, affordable tailored training programs or to book John to speak at your next event, contact 704-965-4090 or visit our website at JohnFormica.com.