Success isn’t just about transactions in our industry; it’s about fostering a positive and collaborative team culture that drives growth and prosperity. You can’t retain talent to grow your business without a healthy team culture, and this often-neglected subject plays a pivotal role in shaping high-performing teams. 

A positive team culture sets the tone for how your team interacts, communicates, and collaborates. A thriving culture breeds motivation and productivity, leading to better client experiences and increased revenue. Research shows that companies with strong cultures outperform their competitors, so putting effort into something that has such a tangible impact on the bottom line is a great use of your time.

Creating a healthy, positive team culture takes time and dedication, and for best results, you should build it into your everyday practice as a leader. Yep, “practice.” Good leadership isn’t an exact science, and none of us nail it every single day, myself included. But by building into practice efforts to consistently build and reinforce your team culture, you will see rewards for many years to come, regardless of what the market is doing.

Ways to Practice and Develop a Positive Team Culture

🎙️Clear Communication 
Open and transparent communication channels lay the foundation for trust and collaboration within your team. Encourage honest dialogue, active listening, and feedback loops to foster a culture of respect and understanding.

👓 Shared Vision and Values 
Align your team with a common purpose and core values. When everyone is working towards the same goals, it creates a sense of unity and collective accountability. Discuss core values often and celebrate those who embody them while addressing those who do not. Core values aren’t effective if they aren’t strictly adhered to by everyone on the team.

💪 Empowerment and Autonomy 
Empower your team members to take ownership of their work and make decisions autonomously. Providing autonomy fosters creativity, innovation, and a sense of ownership, driving individual and team success.

🏆 Recognition and Appreciation 
Celebrate achievements, big and small, and acknowledge the contributions of each team member. Recognizing and appreciating efforts boosts morale, strengthens team cohesion, and reinforces positive behaviors.

👩‍🏫 Provide Opportunities for Growth and Education
Invest in the growth and development of your team members through training, coaching, and mentorship programs and opportunities. A culture that prioritizes learning fosters personal and professional advancement, driving long-term success and by creating career advancement paths you will empower your team to reach their full potential and stay engaged in their roles.

🥰 Foster a Supportive Environment 
When team members feel valued, respected, and supported they will not only want to stay in your organization, but they will encourage others to join as well! Show empathy and compassion by understanding their individual needs, challenges, and aspirations. Demonstrate a willingness to listen and provide support so that you can foster trust.

👂Regularly Solicit Feedback
Ask regularly for suggestions to improve the team culture and working environment. Actively listen to their suggestions and concerns and take proactive steps to address any issues or areas for improvement.

👔 Encourage Work-Life Balance
Respect boundaries, encourage time off, and support flexible work arrangements when possible. A balanced lifestyle leads to happier team members who are better equipped to perform at their best.

😇 Practice What You Preach
Here are a few totally random, made-up examples to illustrate what happens if you do not practice what you preach:

• If one of your core values is honesty and your staff regularly catches you lying to them, it quickly erodes trust and confidence in both you personally and the business.
• If you promote work-life balance, texting your staff before or after hours or on weekends sets the stage for never being able to step away from work because it is constantly being brought to attention.
• If you are the reason why your party gets asked to leave a popular restaurant, people inside and outside your company will question your business practices and professionalism, and think that kind of behavior is acceptable to repeat on future occasions.

A fit person typically has a fit business, so recognizing that you set the tone for professionalism and what is appropriate for the team is crucial to building a strong company culture that will support your entire team for years to come. Without this last element of practicing what you preach, most of your other efforts will be wasted. 

It begins with us. Take a moment to do some real self-reflection and then get to work! You can do it!