Make your business a great place to work
A good workplace culture is key to making your business a great place to work.
The culture in your business is like its overall personality.
For example, your workplace may be:
- casual or formal
- competitive or collaborative
- people-focused or process-driven.
People tend to be more productive and less likely to leave when they work somewhere with a well-established culture. They’ll feel welcome and valued — and happier as a result.
There’s no one “right” culture. Different cultures work for different kinds of businesses.
The culture in your workplace should work for you and your staff, while supporting your long-term business goals.
The way you lead your business contributes to that culture. Good leadership keeps employees motivated and aligned, which lets them do their best work.
Leaders who get the best from their people know the importance of trust, fairness, communication and having a shared sense of purpose.
Find your leadership style
Leadership is a skill like any other. Don’t expect to get everything right from day one — it takes time and practice to find your style and fine-tune your skills.
Improving your own skill as a leader is worth the effort, just like developing your employees’ skills.
You’ll grow in confidence, strengthen relationships and learn how to consistently get the best from your team.
Identify what you need to work on. Evaluate yourself, and ask for frank, constructive feedback from your team.
For example, ask:
- could you communicate more clearly?
- are you delegating efficiently?
- does your leadership motivate your team?
Use these insights to reflect on which leadership styles could work best for you and your team.
There are different ways to lead people effectively and how you lead may need to change weekly, daily or even by the hour – depending on who you’re leading and the situation you’re in.
Above all, remember that leadership is about people.
People need respect, understanding and motivation to do their best work for a long period. It’s part of your job to provide those necessities.
What's next
Deciding to hire
Advertising and hiring
Leave and holidays
Ending employment
Having a fair workplace
Resolving employment challenges
Upskilling employees
Looking after yourself
Looking after your people