By Better Business Bureau^®

As your business grows, you could find that it needs to add employees. Successfully attracting and then keeping talent that helps your company continue to flourish is heavily influenced by one key factor: culture. In fact, according to a survey performed by Glassdoor, more than half of job seekers place a higher value on a company’s culture than their salary when choosing a position.

So, if company culture is important, then how is it built? Contrary to some beliefs, establishing an effective company culture doesn’t just mean piling perks onto your employees. You need to work to help your teams proactively feel that their time spent serving at your company feels valuable. Here are some practices that invite those outcomes.

1. Hire the right employees.

Just because someone is qualified for the job based on their resume doesn't necessarily mean they will be a good fit at your company. Hiring for skill alone puts your organization at risk for failure. So, prioritize team players, work ethic, creativity, and personalities aligned with your company's culture.

Skill is important, but it’s not the most crucial factor needed to take your organization to the top. A person who is difficult to get along with or doesn't share the company's vision can negatively affect other employees, your customers, and, ultimately, the entire organization.

2. Welcome employee input.

Employees value an environment that welcomes and cultivates their ideas and suggestions. So, encourage your team members to share their thoughts and bring ideas. Collaboration between employees and management allows the business to grow and thrive.

If an employee introduces an idea, consider putting that person in charge. Create opportunities for employees to learn new skills and advance beyond their current position. Most employees don't stay in the same job indefinitely. They want to innovate and advance the company's future, which is a win-win for everyone.

3. Create a comfortable workspace.

Want to know the types of work environments that do NOT encourage productivity? Boring workspaces full of desks. It's important to create a comfortable workspace so that your employees can maximize their time with you.

If your team works together in person, pay attention to elements like your office's lighting and let in natural light when possible. Green plants can also liven up the environment and energize the work area. And if your team works from home, provide resources for remotely creating their versions of a comfortable and productive environment.

4. Make the company's mission clear.

Employees must understand your business’s mission because it should guide every decision. A good mission statement not only directs employees but can also help orient customers, suppliers, and shareholders. It’s a simple but integral component of company culture.

5. Allow employees to become acquainted.

A great way to encourage teamwork and cultivate professional relationships is to provide opportunities for employees to become acquainted. You can’t expect team members to value and trust one another without truly getting to know each other first. That means thinking beyond the occasional party or virtual get-together.

Some ideas to engage employees and provide opportunities to build interpersonal relationships include:

• Holding little rituals at company meetings that encourage socialization
• Hosting themes for certain days of the week or holidays
• Engaging in community projects together
• Holding friendly competitions

Employees can also get acquainted when you celebrate their successes. Recognizing employees for their professional wins can boost morale and encourage employees to be more productive and innovative. This also puts accomplished employees in the spotlight.

Cultivating a good company culture is not easy, but if you put off establishing a good one, your company’s culture will build itself—and you probably won't like the results. As your organization grows, your employees will advance and bring fresh ideas to the table, ultimately leading to continued success and company growth.

For more information

For more information to help your small business, check out the BBB business news feed and the BizHQ.

Visit BBB's new business hub to learn more about starting your own business!

To review this article and hyperlinked references in full, visit: https://www.bbb.org/article/business/27474-new-business-tip-5-elements-that-make-a-good-company-culture

BBB Great West + Pacific contributed this article.