Culture is often discussed but can mean different things to different people. Regardless, a business with the right culture grows and attracts better people who stay longer. Conversely, poor culture leads to high staff turnover, especially among top performers, causing the business to struggle.
A strong company culture is crucial for attracting the right talent, which is essential for excelling in any field. While many companies complain about the difficulty of finding good people, it’s clear that the right individuals are employed somewhere—they could be working for you!
It’s a common misconception that only big companies can develop and maintain an amazing culture with perks like free lunches, ping pong tables, and massages. However, great workplace culture is not just about perks; it’s about helping your people meet their goals and become more productive and successful. Every business can do this. Companies with a learning culture are popular employers.
Here are four suggestions:
1. Offer Growth Opportunities: Most employees, especially younger ones, want to expand their knowledge. Provide regular training courses related to their field, reimburse tuition for unrelated courses, or create a mentoring program. These initiatives build valuable skills.
2. Recognise Value: Praise is free and powerful. Frequently acknowledge staff efforts. Implement a system where peers or customers can nominate employees for their contributions. Reward innovative ideas that benefit the business.
3. Provide Employee Benefits: Ask staff what benefits they value and tailor offerings accordingly. This ensures benefits are appreciated and utilised.
4. Keep the Workplace Flexible: Offer flexible work arrangements to help employees balance work and personal time. This can be challenging in retail but is a great incentive if feasible.
Creating and maintaining a great culture requires effort, but the benefits of recruiting and retaining motivated, productive team members far outweigh any drawbacks. Poor culture, on the other hand, leads to losing top talent and retaining less engaged employees, which can quickly spell disaster.
Roger Simpson – CEO, The Retail Solution and Author of “The Ultimate Retail Sales Experience” With over 35 years’ industry experience, Roger Simpson is recognized as Australia’s #1 Authority on customer ROI in the retail industry and as a global expert on staff coaching, customer service, and selling skills.
