How do you improve company culture?

Company culture is often described as “the way we do things around here” or “the way we act, speak and make decisions without thinking about it.” A healthy culture helps a business thrive, while a poor one can hold it back.

The important thing to remember is that culture doesn’t just evolve by itself – it takes thought, planning and consistent effort from leadership.

Here are some practical ways we help our clients to create a positive working environment:

• Build strong relationships – mentor people, support their development, and encourage career progression.
• Connect employees to a purpose – a clear mission and set of values (formal or informal) give everyone something to work towards.
• Recognise good work – regular thank-yous and celebrating achievements go a long way.
• Create positive experiences – encourage employees to share ideas, raise concerns, and get involved in team activities that they enjoy.
• Do something social – organising occasional activities outside of work, whether that’s a team lunch, volunteering day, or after-work get-together, can help people connect on a more personal level and strengthen relationships.
• Be transparent – open, honest communication builds trust at every level.
• Give autonomy – trust teams to do their jobs well and empower them to make decisions.
• Make time for one-to-ones – meaningful, regular conversations show employees they’re valued and that their input is important.

Improving culture doesn’t have to mean a complete overhaul – small, consistent actions can have a big impact over time.

Sometimes it helps to have a fresh pair of eyes. We help our clients by providing an external perspective on company culture and creating practical improvements that really make a difference – for example, by supporting managers to run meaningful one-to-ones, helping businesses introduce simple recognition practices, or suggesting ways to build stronger connections within teams.

If you’d like to explore how we can help improve company culture in your business – or are interested in our “culture audit” – do get in touch, we’ll be happy to set up a call to talk through the practicalities.