HR : Your Culture Gatekeeper
Culture-building can seem like a top-down process , with leadership defining and leading its implementation . But it ’ s actually your human resources ( HR ) department that ’ s uniquely positioned to support its development . HR can create boundaries , support cultural initiatives , and encourage positive performance . Here ’ s how :
ÎESTABLISHING Î
BEST PRACTICES . Culture communicates strategy and values . HR can reinforce both . When leadership sets guidelines for flexible hours , for example , HR communicates the policy and ensures it gets carried out consistently .
ÎPROVIDING Î
SUPPORT . By knowing your company ’ s business landscape , HR can serve as a strategic guide — offering leaders a clear picture of risks and opportunities , and coaching teams to success .
ÎDRIVE Î THE PROCESS . Culture can ’ t be left to chance . To foster accountability in cultural practices , HR can establish and guide hiring or benefits processes , as well as perform assessments that show leaders how initiatives are working .
GETTING STARTED
Companies that promote positive culture are among the best performing , as happy employees are productive employees who impact your bottom line . For examples , look no further than culture leaders like Google , Facebook , or Zappos . Here ’ s a helpful tip : Build cultural guidelines that cater to 95 % of your employees . It ’ d be natural to focus on activating the 5 % of employees who won ’ t follow rules . But you ’ ll create a more positive culture by offering greater autonomy to the majority of employees who are motivated and compliant .
ACHIEVE SUCCESS
By Cultivating Mental Wellness
From free gym memberships to a breakroom stocked with healthy snacks , many companies today are caring for employees by offering benefits that promote health and wellness . But while diet- and exercisefocused perks are commonplace , it turns out there ’ s another form of wellness that can greatly affect employee satisfaction and engagement : mental wellness .
Defined as the ability to cope with stress , work efficiently , and make a positive impact , mental wellness can be influenced by many internal and external factors . High-stress environments , coworker attitudes , and a sense of loyalty can all contribute . In fact , Google recently discovered that the workplace functioned more efficiently when employees felt they could be vulnerable and trust their coworkers .
Cultivating Wellness Within To nurture positive mental health within your company , focus on external factors you can control : ÎWork Î to develop relationships and encourage participation that puts teamwork above competition .
ÎProvide Î clear goals for teams and individuals in order to personally connect them to the company ’ s mission .
ÎPractice Î openness while also fostering accountability .
Not only can such efforts create positive morale , but they can also promote productivity . By providing your workers with an environment where they feel safe and engaged , you ’ ll enhance mental health and wellness , resulting in fewer absences and greater creativity .
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