Many professionals’ objective is to reach upper management or the board room. Making it to the top usually means better pay, more power and the ability to influence major change in your company.
These roles also come with a lot of responsibility for keeping the business afloat and ensuring maximum profitability.
But one hiring trend is becoming more and more prominent as the workforce becomes younger and more diverse: culture building. This is not just a strong buzzword to include on your resume. It also is a philosophy to which leaders must ascribe.
What is Culture Building?
Building a corporate culture means fostering a positive environment, one that encourages collaboration and a united focus. Employees who work in an employee-focused workplace are happier and more productive because they feel like valued members of the team.
If you’re looking to position yourself for a promotion into upper-level management, or you’re seeking a chance to market your skills for outside C-level positions, here are some steps you can take in your current leadership role to impact the culture of your company:
- Celebrate success. Work hard to let your employees know that they are appreciated, especially when goals are met and customers are happy. Partner with your human resources department to make sure incentives are in place for strong performance. Reward your best employees and encourage all workers to strive for excellence.
- Promote from within. Nothing shows your employees that you respect their work like promoting them to positions of more responsibility and better pay. This internal focus on career advancement will motivate your employees to perform at their highest potential.
- Communicate regularly. As management professionals, it’s hard not to get wrapped up in the minutia of meetings, planning and numbers analysis. Don’t forget that building relationships throughout various departments is key to cultivating a positive workplace culture.
