5 ways to create a workplace culture that supports employee motivation and productivity
A positive and engaging work environment adds quantifiable value to an organisation, driving innovation, collaboration, and overall performance.
However, creating and effectively communicating such a culture requires thoughtful strategies and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Here are five essential steps to build and convey a workplace culture that empowers employees, boosts morale and maximises productivity.
Lived experience
Workplace culture is created in the lived experiences that your employees have each day while in your organisation.
It is informed by your organisational values, your agreed standards, the attitudes and behaviours of employees across the business, and the environment in which they work (physical and digital).
It is supported by how that all aligns with the external brand, values and messaging of the company.
Positive workplace cultures are often seen in tandem with recognition-rich cultures, where employees feel appreciated for their performance, achievements, attitudes, and behaviours.
Well-executed recognition and rewards programmes can significantly boost motivation, productivity, and talent retention, benefiting both employee morale and the bottom line.
Whether you’re a seasoned leader or a new manager, these actionable insights will help you cultivate a thriving and motivated workforce.
1. Establish your employee value proposition (EVP)
Your EVP is the message you send to current and future employees about what it’s like to work for your brand.
More than just pay, benefits and security, your EVP is an accumulation of experiences, emotions and interactions.
More to the point, it’s a promise of what you’ll do for your employees when they give their best each day.
A great EVP:
- Attracts people who share your brand’s passions and values
- Inspires employees to do awesome work
- Retains top talent by giving them reasons to stay.
Implementing a strategic reward and recognition programme brings your EVP to life and maintains engagement throughout the employee lifecycle.
Integrated recognition supports your business strategies and enhances key employee moments, from onboarding to daily appreciation and celebrating milestones.
Employees that are recognised monthly are:
2. Get leadership support and buy-in
Leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping and maintaining the workplace culture and by securing its support and buy-in, you lay a strong foundation for a culture that motivates and engages employees, driving overall organisational success.
Leaders are role models who set the tone for the entire organisation.
Ensuring they embody your company values and actively drive engagement programmes is essential.
- Engage early: engage with leadership teams early around engagement strategy- help them understand the detail.
- Present relevant data: present and highlight relevant data that supports both ROI (return on investment) that alters the bottom line and VOI (value on investment) creates high eNPS (employee net promoter score) and employee satisfaction.
- Timing is key: be vigilant around the right ‘timing.’ Leaders juggle many responsibilities and priorities. Help them be open to new initiatives by being considerate towards workload. Pick your moment.
3. Regularly review programme components and structure
An effective and vibrant employee engagement programme requires continuous evaluation and refinement.
Based on global experience and research, consider assessing your programme against BI WORLDWIDE’s engagement drivers, the ‘New Rules of Engagement’ to prioritise your efforts for maximum impact on employee commitment, effort and loyalty.
Consider taking our quick online assessment to evaluate your employee experience scores against the new rules and receive tailored advice and suggested strategies to enhance your employee engagement and workplace culture.
4. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Nothing is effective unless it’s communicated.
Effective communication is vital for a thriving workplace culture.
Ensure your strategies are underpinned by robust and comprehensive communication plans to keep your programmes front of mind.
Use a variety of assets and touchpoints, including emails, demand playbooks and guides for support and best practice tips, meetings and events to amplify your programme and spotlight success and intersperse surveys and polls for pulse checks and more formal measurement of programme impact and employee satisfaction.
5. Invest in management training
Gratitude often gravitates towards visible achievements, but it’s equally important to acknowledge less visible yet impactful behaviours.
Managers need to feel confident and supported in recognising their entire teams.
Equip managers with reporting tools to identify gaps and biases in recognition behaviours.
Provide regular automated nudges suggesting who might deserve appreciation. Investing in management training empowers leaders to foster a more inclusive and appreciative workplace culture.
The path to motivation and productivity
Fostering a workplace culture that enhances employee motivation and productivity is a multi-faceted venture that requires strategic planning and consistent effort.
Organisations can create an environment where employees feel valued, engaged and empowered to perform at their best by:
- Establishing a clear employee value proposition
- Securing leadership support and buy-in
- Regularly reviewing and refining programme components
- Prioritising open and frequent communication
- Investing in management training.
Remember, the journey to a motivated and productive workforce is ongoing.
It demands commitment and adaptability, but the rewards - higher employee satisfaction, improved performance, and a thriving organisational culture - are well worth the effort.
In partnership with BI WORLDWIDE
BI WORLDWIDE is a global engagement agency delivering measurable results for clients through inspirational employee and channel reward and recognition solutions.
