Tried and Tested Methods for Improving Team Culture and Engagement

Team culture and engagement have taken a massive hit over the last couple of years since the Covid pandemic, leaving many employees and management feeling out of touch with each other and their organization in general.

However, there are a few tried and tested methods for improving team culture and engagement which are beneficial and easy to implement, even when WFH.

We’ve listed the best below…

1. Make Team Culture a Priority

This may sound obvious, but while many organizations say that team culture is important, they don’t make it a priority or actively work towards creating the team culture they desire.

This may be because ‘team culture’ can’t be measured or analyzed – it isn’t a tangible thing that can be assessed or viewed on a spreadsheet, but this doesn’t mean that it can’t be improved, managed, and shaped to bring about the desired results.

Every organization has a culture (managed or not) as norms and expectations develop naturally over time and to which new employees will conform.

However, to create, or reshape, the desired organizational culture takes time, effort, and support.

If your team are happy and the organizational culture is positive, they will be more productive, produce better work and be more satisfied overall, so it is worth making it a priority.

2. Educate your Team and Share Objectives

A positive team culture and real workforce engagement is easier if everyone is working from the same page.

Your team need to know what to prioritize to be able make informed decisions and understand where to go for help when it is required.

Educate your team – from the top down – regarding long term, non-financial company objectives, and show employees how they fit into the company.

Encourage those in management roles to share this key information with their team, highlighting the links between employees, other teams, and senior members.

When employees realize how their role reinforces the company structure, they understand their value within the it and have a greater sense of self-confidence and belonging.

3. Teach Respect at Every Level

Educating your team, and sharing company objectives, give the best results when everyone is treated with respect.

While those in leadership roles are usually there because they are great at getting things done, this must be achieved with mutual consideration, trust, and awareness.

Ensure managers take time to talk to individual employees, ask questions about their role, check they are coping okay (especially if they are working remotely) and to let employees know there is support available should they need it.

Every employee deserves to be treated with respect and it falls to those in management to lead by example.

It is essential managers are trained how to act like a leader; teach mindfulness techniques, how to cope with stress at work, conflict resolution, and unconscious bias to leaders so they have all the necessary tools at their disposal to help their team grow and evolve.

4. Share Success

Recognizing and rewarding success – no matter how small or seemingly insignificant – is a sure way to encourage the behaviour you want to see.

For example, if a team member is off sick and another automatically takes over certain tasks to cover, make sure they are fittingly rewarded and recognized.

It doesn’t have to be a huge financial reward, maybe a little gift or bottle of wine, just to say thank you, we appreciate and notice your efforts.

Promoting a positive team culture by operating a reward system where employees nominate others for their hard work, successes or for going the extra mile, can be extra meaningful as it involves everyone considering the work and ethics of their peers.

5. Working From Home

Working from home practices, which have become widespread during the Covid pandemic, don’t mean an end to team culture and engagement.

More likely, it means we must work twice as hard at engaging employees and promoting a positive team culture.

Regular check-ins via email, phone or in-person are hugely important during this time and can help reduce feelings of isolation, helplessness, or depression, especially when handled by trained members of management.

Similarly, events and activities such as, virtual quiz nights, yoga sessions, group mindfulness meetings, and so on, really do help promote a positive team culture and encourage engagement.