March 5, 2018

By Patricia Kopec

It truly is rewarding to go into work feeling excited and looking forward to the day! A positive and strong organizational culture can make this a reality.  The culture of your organization is essentially its DNA.

There is increasing evidence that focusing on creating and promoting healthy organizational behaviour has helped to make workplaces happy and healthy spaces — and this improvement has resulted in increased team engagement and organizational success.

I have heard horror stories of individuals who hated going to work every day because they found no value in the work they were doing or they were being mistreated. I’m very grateful to have started my career in an organization that is just the opposite.

At Intrigue we are fortunate to work for an organization that has developed and implemented a culture that allows our team members to look forward to coming into work — and hanging out as a team beyond working hours.

Inc. explains this perfectly, “When you take a group of independently talented people and create a team in which they can merge their talents, not only will a remarkable amount of energy and creativity be released, but their performance, loyalty and engagement will be greatly improved.”

Here are some steps you can take to build a positive and healthy organizational culture:

Focus on ‘Team Members’ not ‘Employees’

At Intrigue we see the word ‘employee’ as a swear word. Focusing on using the term ‘team member’ can create an increased feeling of value in an individual and the team. The word ‘team member’ focuses on the group as a unity working together to create something great! We’re in this together and we’ve got each other’s back!

Establish values and goals with the team

Sitting down with your team to establish values and goals helps to create a sense of trust and responsibility. If someone has a voice in the way that things are being done, they will feel more engaged and empowered. Creating team goals and values creates a strong organizational culture because everyone is involved in the decision making process.

At Intrigue we have Operations Team Goals, Sales Team Goals, and Organizational Goals. When we accomplish our goals, we celebrate the achievement all together, as a team!

Do activities together inside and outside of work hours

When developing a strong team culture it is important to do activities together inside and outside of work hours. Try implementing monthly team lunches where everyone gets to sit down, relax, and enjoy an hour together without having to worry about work. Depending on your business or industry, you can also consider quarterly events or off-site getaways.

Cross training team members

Giving your team members the opportunity to learn and grow, outside of their given field and position, creates a sense of excitement, interest, and trust. Educating your team and allowing them to explore different skills helps to create variety within their role — and this keeps things interesting. Having a team that’s cross functional is a major asset to both the individual and the company!

Work hard, but have fun

At Intrigue we all work very hard and we know when to put our heads down. We also know that it’s important to find a balance between work and fun inside your organization. Achieving this balance will encourage team members to work hard because they know they can celebrate and have fun afterwards. If you take steps to encourage a positive work environment, your team members will want to come to work — and this will help to increase both productivity and the quality of work produced.

Happy Team Members = Quality Work = Increased Success = GREAT DNA

Organizational dynamics and team cultures are changing! As we continue to explore psychology and learn about the benefits of a positive work environment, I encourage you to incorporate some of these tips into your company culture and see what a difference it can make! If you want to learn more about implementing cultural change, give us a call at 519-265-4933.

Tricia wants to ensure your experience with Intrigue is awesome! She helps non-profits, businesses, and communities grow together. Tricia assists the sales team in business development. Outside of work she is an avid tea drinker, world traveller and loves getting active and cooking healthy.

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