As an executive leader, you have the power to build a positive culture to your team. A positive culture is comprised of the environment in which you work and impacts each and every member of the team, and helps you stand out as a leader.
Why is a positive culture important to your team?
- Creates shared values and systems that connects each member of the team
- Cultivates teamwork and fosters collaboration
- Increases productivity and performance
- Improves morale by increasing job satisfaction
- Reduces stress levels of employees
Overall, positive culture is imperative to build a team that shares collective values and fosters meaningful relationships that enhance all aspects of the team’s output.
How do you build a positive culture on your team?
Set Clear Expectations
Part of building a positive culture on your team means establishing clear expectations that align to the company’s values. It is crucial that these expectations are visited on a regular basis to ensure that each individual member of your team take personal accountability to employ these expectations every day.
Value Communication
To ensure the success of each member of your team and the overall effectiveness of your team, communication is vital. As the team leader, you must clearly communicate the team’s expectations and values. Additionally, your team members should feel comfortable enough to ask questions and present ideas. Communication makes every member of the team feel valued and important and, as a result, increases their productivity and morale and enables all team members to maintain their dignity in stressful situations.
Create a Supportive Environment
Create a team in which everyone does their part while helping others in the process. A supportive environment is the very definition of teamwork. Therefore, if you build a culture in which everyone views tasks as “our” collective job rather than viewing certain tasks as one team member’s job, it truly creates a supportive team with a collective goal. This will not only increase the productivity and performance of each individual but also the entire team.
Build Meaningful Relationships
Encourage your team members to build meaningful relationships within the team. To do this, get to know each of your team members personally. Ask questions about their families, experiences, and hobbies. Incorporate team building regularly to authentically build relationships among your team members—go golfing, take them out for lunch, or try something new together. Meaningful relationships improve your team’s accountability, productivity, and morale.
