We all understand that having a positive team culture can transform the quality of our daily work life, plus transform what we achieve individually and as a team.
Having an effective retirement village team is doubly important because each member is interacting with residents every day but often alone (think maintenance and office reception).
But what is team culture?
Team culture is a combination of:
- Values,
- Beliefs, and
- behavioural norms
that team members share.
It can be seen in the way leaders and followers behave when representing the company.
A good team culture has several identifiers, such as:
- It includes great leaders
- It develops a great and satisfying place to work
- It produces more engaged work colleagues
- It reduces interpersonal conflicts
- It reduces turnover
Telling questions: how to build a good team culture
Begin by understanding the existing culture. Use the following checklist of questions to assess it:
- What are the corporate values?
- What is the level of employee awareness of corporate values?
- What are the values reflected in worker behaviour?
- What are the values reflected in managerial behaviours?
- Are employees supportiveness?
- Do workers respect each other?
- Are there shared beliefs in achieving business goals?
- Does management act to communicate, maintain, or improve team culture?
- Are there operational processes that support healthy staff behaviours?
- Are there managerial activities that negatively influence staff behaviours?
- What are the company policies and protocols that guide staff behaviour?
Activities for promoting a strong company culture
1. Stakeholder feedback
Request the feedback of employees, clients, and other external stakeholders regarding staff values, beliefs, and norms of behaviour.
2. Culture of the management
The culture of the company leaders is likely to have a bigger influence on team culture than any other factor. In a good team culture, the senior managers are its main advocates.
3. Reward workers who reflect the team culture
To promote a strong team culture, it’s important to show your employees that you value their contributions to it.
4. Hire people who suit the team culture
It’s important to hire employees who can support your team culture instead of sabotage it.
Most important of all, a positive team culture develops a great and satisfying place to work. And that must be good.