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The Top 4 Company Culture Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

· Business,Work,Culture,HR,Employees

For job seekers, company culture is often a major factor when deciding where to apply. Companies that provide a better work environment as well as work-life balance are more likely to draw top candidates and generally experience lower rates of turnover.

Not only does positive corporate culture attract employees, but consumers gravitate toward companies that are known for treating their people well. Despite all the anecdotal and proven evidence about the importance of positive company culture, missteps are inevitable. Executives and other decision makers should be aware of common company culture mishaps and how to avoid them.

A study performed by the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University found that 90 percent of management professionals stated that company culture is a priority at their organizations. Of those surveyed, more than 70 percent expressed that workplace culture is one of the five aspects that increase company value, while 92 percent indicated that their company’s value would increase if the work environment was to improve. On the lower end, 15 percent of executives were confident with their current corporate culture.

These numbers make it clear that, when businesses don’t prioritize workplace culture, employees may become demoralized, which can adversely affect productivity levels. Employees who are less motivated tend to have more negative interaction with coworkers, customers and other stakeholders, which can hurt business. However, there are ways to avoid the pitfalls of a negative company culture.

Mistake #1: Hiring on the Fly

A great workplace environment begins with a great team of employees but at times, quality workers can be difficult to come by. “Hiring on the fly" means bringing in people whose qualifications have not been fully vetted or those who simply don’t mesh with the existing workplace culture.

Hasty hiring decisions have the potential to negatively impact corporate culture if a business hires large numbers of employees at once or asks the wrong questions during the interview process. While it is great to have highly-qualified employees, it is also imperative to know how they work with others. Conflict in the workplace can quickly diminish positive company culture.

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One way to foster a culture that people will want to be a part of is deciding what values and traits matter most to your business. Most companies look for trustworthy candidates who have a teamwork mentality as well as the experience to effectively perform the job.

During the application process, interviewers should ask a series of screening questions to eliminate applicants who do not meet predefined standards. Avoid haphazard hiring by developing screening questions that have been proven to elicit candid answers which get to the heart of how a candidate works with others, their overall disposition, and other factors that impact the work environment.

Mistake #2: Poor Communication

Communication is a significant factor in all types of relationships, including relationships in the workplace. When employees feel as if they don’t have all of the information they need to fulfill their responsibilities and feel confident in the company's stability and longevity, it erodes the trust between leadership and rank-and-file.

When employees can’t trust their employers, it inevitably affects the work environment. If an employer doesn't give appropriate feedback and advancement opportunities to its employees, they will eventually look for employers that will. Keeping communication open conveys to employees that their company respects and appreciates their efforts.

Mistake #3: Lack of Transparency

Anytime there is a change in the company, whether it’s with policies or the way tasks are evaluated, employees need to know. Not being transparent can cause confusion and discomfort. Employees may not ask in-depth questions when they are confused because they don't want to overstep their boundaries.

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Many businesses have an open-door policy that allows employees to voice opinions and concerns. Others find ways to solicit feedback anonymously. Regardless of which method is used, businesses that make communication a priority will tend to have a better workplace culture.

Mistake #4: Micromanagement

Ideally, employees are confident in their skill sets. However, when a manager or supervisor is constantly hovering nearby and checking in, this can cause them to question themselves and become agitated. This can affect a business's employee retention; micromanagement is a major contributor to high turnover. Many times, people will leave a position or a company altogether if they are always being watched.

You can keep track of an employee's progress with a task without constantly checking in on them. Monitoring progress on a more intermittent basis allows employees the freedom to work independently when completing a task. This freedom will also encourage employees to ask for help if they need it. When you can show an employee that you trust them, they will be happier at work and be motivated to improve.

Make Healthy Workplace Culture a Priority

Prioritizing the importance of workplace culture is key to improving it. Remaining mindful of these concepts can also help improve a less-than-ideal workplace culture.

Workplace culture is something that impacts the employee experience even if it is not explicitly cultivated. Whether the workplace becomes a negative or positive environment is up to employers. Having basic respect for your employees will allow you to cultivate a corporate culture that people will be proud of.