How To Develop A Culture Of Community

Company culture helps you recruit, retain and motivate your employees. It is also one of the biggest selling points for potential employees. However, positive company culture can be challenging to build and sustain, especially as a company grows. But it's not impossible. Focusing on developing a culture based on community can help your culture grow as your business does.

Reasons to develop a culture of community

Community is a feeling that the people involved in a project or who share an office all belong together. A common goal connects them. This is the feeling you should aim to foster in your business for many reasons.

1. Creates a sense of belonging

If employees are going to spend eight hours a day, five days a week on average with a team, they should feel like they belong in the company. When employees feel part of a community at work, it becomes more than a requirement. It becomes a place where employees can rely on each other and enjoy going.

2. Fosters transparency

Belonging leads to a sense of trust, which breeds close-knit teams. As a result, employees will be transparent with each other. Any challenges people may face can be tackled effectively.

3. Increases productivity

Instead of having employees who work because they have to, you'll have a community that strives to be their best for the good of the whole. Even on bad days, the team will work through issues as best as they can and understand the need for a team to regroup.

Developing community in the workplace

Just telling your employees that they are part of a community doesn't do much if there's nothing to back it up. A manager should actively demonstrate and offer community as a positive option for workplace culture.

1. Team building activities

Team building has been shown to encourage bonding and a sense of trust among employees. These things are the building blocks of community culture. Team building activities are numerous and diverse.

You could take a safari, a three-day camping trip, group cooking classes, self-defense lessons, paintballing, GP Karting, and so many more. Try having different, regular activities that are fun and involve everyone in the office.

2. Promote diversity and acceptance

Community is all about different people making life work. You may not all like each other, but at the end of the day, you respect them as part of your team. Commit to equal opportunity employment and hire qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds, lifestyles and world views.

Encourage your employees to engage in civil discourse, but refrain from discriminatory language. This will build a culture of open-mindedness and curious acceptance. When people know others will accept them as they are, they will bring their authentic and most productive selves to work.

3. Share the company vision and mission

While diverse views are important, people are unified by a common goal. Always inform new hires of the company's history, mission and vision. Regular team discussions about these goals are important as well. Tell your team that they are an integral part of meeting these goals.

4. Encourage healthy habits

Health is wealth, and too much work stress is not healthy. It can pit people against each other and result in poor mental and physical health among employees. Offer company meditation sessions, group spin classes, office walks, or morning gratitude moments. Whichever you choose, having the entire office participate in it will provide a healthy bonding experience.

5. Promote business viewpoints

Encourage free thinking and differing opinions when it comes to projects and business in general. This will promote a culture of healthy competition and encourage new thinking. Monitor these sessions if you can to demonstrate how to properly discuss team projects and manage time. Everyone loves to have their opinion heard -- it makes them feel essential to the company's function. But too much can result in community exhaustion. Teach when "enough is enough."

6. Create a positive workspace

Show gratitude for help and encourage others to do the same. Gently encourage those who are struggling and offer training to better their work. Celebrate those who achieve. This builds a supportive and positive work environment that leads to community culture.

Wrapping up

A human-centered approach to business creates an environment of productivity and fosters community. Community-focused workplaces are pro-people. They show that the company values its employees and is not solely focused on profits.