Page 19 - The EDGE Fall 2024

Creating a Positive Workplace Culture

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

makes them stay or leave. Pulver’s research found first step. Ensuring your leaders know how to
that employees often leave jobs not because of apply that knowledge is the next. Primed to
pay or perks, but because they feel undervalued Perform emphasizes the importance of "total
or disconnected from leadership. motivation" — a framework that helps leaders
design environments that meet both the tactical
Measuring Workplace Culture needs of the organization and the adaptive needs
Does your organization have a positive workplace of its people. This requires a deep understanding
culture? How do you know? More importantly, of both employee psychology and the mechanics
how do you measure it? Many organizations rely of the workplace.
on surface-level indicators like turnover rates or
employee satisfaction surveys. However, these "The real question is whether
metrics often fail to capture the deeper, more your organization measures how
complex elements of culture and motivation. employees feel about their work
The real question is whether your organization environment and how engaged
measures how employees feel about their work
environment and how engaged they are. they are."
Using research-based metrics to assess culture
is essential. For example, Doshi and McGregor The Importance of Listening and Responding
suggest measuring both emotional and behavioral One of the most crucial aspects of building a
aspects of motivation. Emotional measures look at positive culture is listening to your employees.
how employees feel—whether they experience joy I Love It Here underscores the importance of
or frustration in their work. Behavioral measures continuous feedback. Many organizations have
track how employees respond to those feelings formal feedback systems in place, but they often
— whether they are innovating, collaborating, or fail to create an open, honest dialogue where
withdrawing. employees feel truly heard. Pulver’s research
shows that organizations that excel in employee
Taking Action: Strategic Approaches to retention and engagement make it a point to
Addressing Employee Needs frequently check in with their workforce and take
Once you've gathered data on your workplace swift, thoughtful action based on the feedback
culture, the next step is to take meaningful action. they receive.
It’s not enough to simply collect information — Recruitment and Retention in a Post-Covid World
there must be a strategic approach to addressing The post-Covid landscape has magnified the
the needs of your employees. Are your action importance of culture in both recruitment and
plans research-based? Are your leaders trained retention. Employees are seeking more than just
to use practical, evidence-backed strategies for a paycheck — they want to work in environments

fostering a positive work environment? where they feel valued, connected, and motivated.
Many organizations have struggled to retain talent

Understanding what motivates people is the because they have not taken the time to understand
CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

19