Here’s the thing: a business is about so much more than just the money it makes. It’s about the people who make it all happen, it’s about a dream, goals and a mission. To really thrive, a small business needs more than simply great business practices … it needs a great culture.

 Not only is culture important for attracting new hires and keeping existing ones, but it also serves as a barometer for how well your business does overall.

Here are 4 proven strategies for building an incredible culture in your small business.

Strategy #1: Make Your Mission Clear

The mission statement is the foundation of your company culture, and it’s something that everyone in your small business should be able to get behind. It’s a short phrase that encapsulates the core beliefs and purpose of your organization and gives people a reason to work together.

A good mission statement should be inspiring, but also realistic: you’re not going to cure cancer or save the world overnight. You’re going to do things like help people buy groceries, pay their bills or find new ways to share information with each other. And that’s great!

Strategy #2: Hire People Who Share Your Vision

If you want to build a culture and create something special, it’s important to hire people who are aligned with your values and have the same passion for what you’re doing. If they don’t believe in it, they won’t be able to fully commit themselves to their work.

Hiring people who are a good fit for your company culture will make all the difference when it comes time for them to contribute ideas or come up with solutions. They’ll feel like they belong there because they’re working with people who are just like them.

Strategy #3: Create Open and Collaborative Spaces

A great environment is one that encourages collaboration and teamwork. To create this, you have to provide a space where people can work and collaborate as needed. This may mean creating an open office plan, or it can simply be a few rooms for meetings and quiet work.

Even if your team is fully remote, encourage folks to chat and work together. It’s easy to feel a little isolated when you never see your team face to face, but with so many great communication tools at our fingertips, it definitely doesn’t have to be that way.

Strategy #4: Give Back to the Community

You can build a culture of community engagement in your small business by providing opportunities for your employees to give back.

To do this, you must let them know how much they matter to the company and how their efforts help make it successful. Then, let them decide what they want to do with those skills and talents. Some ideas include:

  • Providing opportunities for employees to volunteer at local community centers or schools
  • Offering paid time off (PTO) in exchange for volunteering hours at a nonprofit organization
  • Giving employees paid sick days as an incentive for donating blood/plasma or volunteering at local blood drives
  • Encouraging referrals within the company so that employees can refer friends who are interested in working there

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Building a great small business culture will give your team something to get behind, boost morale and help your business thrive. Make your mission clear, hire those who share your vision, encourage collaboration and give back to the community and you’ll be well on your way to making it happen.

Want more insight on building a talented team for your small business? Head here: https://careerpathwaysconsulting.com/connect-with-me/

Barbara Mason is a career consultant that brings over 20 years Human Resources experience and has been in senior level roles for Fortune 500 companies. She is the owner and CEO of Career Pathways Consulting and her passion is helping career professionals stay, flow, or go in their career.

To learn more about working with her, visit www.careerpathwaysconsulting.com.