When candidates are considering your company, it’s not just titles and numbers they’re interested in. Top candidates may receive multiple job offers and have several options to choose from. For many candidates, they’re looking to the culture within the office to determine if they’d be happy there day to day and to see if they’d be joining a group in which they can thrive. In addition to directly appealing to prospective new hires, a positive office culture also contributes to more efficient onboarding of new employees. When current team members feel happy and satisfied in their positions, it tends to be easier for new hires to settle in. If you want to build a successful team, direct some focus internally and assess the office culture that exists among your team members. Whether your office needs a culture overhaul or just a few improvements, read on for some tips to create an office culture that will attract top candidates and support a strong team.
Define Your Values
Every company is different, and each one has a unique culture. In many ways, office culture stems from your company’s core values. The clearer you’ve articulated these values, the stronger your culture can be. Do teamwork, collaboration, and innovation top the list of company values? Or, perhaps things like advancement, growth, and independence better define your company’s internal workings. When you’re clear about those foundational values, it’s easier for employees and candidates to understand the attitude and tone within the office, and it allows the culture to develop from there.
Embrace Flexibility
For many employees, flexibility is one of the most appealing aspects of company culture. Again, the approach that your company has when it comes to flexibility will likely come from its core values, and it can look different from office to office. Whether it’s offering different summer hours, a more adaptable schedule, the ability to work remotely, or opportunities to move within the company, a company whose culture supports some flexibility for its employees is often very attractive to candidates and employees.
Show Appreciation
This one can really set the tone for an office. When an office culture is one where progress is noted, and achievements are celebrated, employees tend to feel more fulfilled by their work and more invested in the success of the company. Conversely, feeling under-appreciated is a reason that many employees leave their company. For candidates considering joining your team, knowing that their work will be valued and appreciated is an attractive quality.
Foster Connection
If you tune into the likes and interests of your employees, it’s easy to create the right opportunities for connection. If your team is full of young professionals who enjoy a night out, an after-work social hour at a local bar may be a way for employees to get to know each other better. If your team is particularly active, a small group hike or similar activity can be a great way for employees to bond. The idea here is to facilitate connection. Take the time to plan events that employees will enjoy, and the company will benefit from the connections made there. For candidates who anticipate spending a significant amount of time in the office, feeling connected to their coworkers can be an important element.
Offer Incentives and Perks
A company culture that rewards its employees and treats them well is a highly-attractive quality to candidates and a motivating reason for them to join a new office. Whether it’s catered lunches, beer on tap, occasional giveaways, or exclusive discounts, a company that values the happiness of its employees tends to be rewarded by invested employees who deliver top-quality performance.
Mentors
When facilitating connections between coworkers, ensure that upper-level and senior employees are included as well. When mentorship is encouraged, new hires can receive the guidance and inspiration they need to be an asset to their team. Having the opportunity to learn and grow in their careers is important to many candidates, and mentorship is a great opportunity for them to receive personalized support and inspiration to excel.
When you’re looking to expand your team, focusing on office culture is a great place to start. The benefits are twofold. It can help your company stand out from the rest to top talent looking to join a new team. In addition, the clearer and more positive an office’s culture is, the happier its current employees are and the better-quality work they produce. The success that comes as a result of employee satisfaction is also a highly-appealing quality to candidates. More and more, people are valuing the quality of their work life over their salary alone. To build the best team, foster an office culture that prioritizes the happiness of its employees.