5 Tips to a Positive Work Culture
If you had never heard of Office Sign Company before and saw this photo of some of their team, what would you think?
I know what I thought when I first saw it. “I want to work there.” It’s a work hard-play hard mentality around here, and it takes place in the friendliest environment. I’m pretty new to the “big kid job” world, but I think I may have lucked out with the work culture I get to be a part of each day.
I’ve done the internships and I’ve worked in restaurants and retail, and I have the utmost appreciation for what I’ve learned from those positions. But, there’s something to be said about a job where balance between work and fun is almost a priority. Who knew that those two things could coexist peacefully at work? With that, here are a few tips from my one-month-in self to create the workplace culture I get to be a part of.
1.) Give cheers
Here at OSC, we use a “Cheers for Peers” system through the app TINYpulse. For those who may not have heard of this app, it’s simply a way to recognize a fellow coworker. For example, if I wanted to say thank you to a coworker for helping to successfully send a rushed order, I’d acknowledge them with a “Cheers,” thanking them for making it happen. In doing so, it not only gives that person a sense of accomplishment, but it also notifies the rest of the company of what that person did. Everyone can agree that it’s nice to be acknowledged for hard work, and this allows us to do so. Not to undermine a genuine face-to-face “thank you.” Those are just as welcomed here.
2.) Award Success, Rookies, and the Messiest Desk
We’ve all heard of the title “Employee of the Month” and probably tried to work towards it. But why limit the awards to just that? Each employee has a different task to carry out each day, and each one should be recognized in some way.
There are plenty of opportunities to recognize employees. Show appreciation to the new employee who went out of his or her way to learn more than just the job description. Or, maybe you need to award the one with the “Bermuda Triangle Desk of 2017.” Yes, that is an actual award here. Ultimately, have fun with it and get a laugh out of it. With the help of our customizable plaque, recognizing your employees has never been easier.
3.) Go Out of Your Way
Don’t underestimate the power of a random act of kindness. Service is one of our core values at Office Sign Company, and volunteering as a group makes it all the more powerful. Whether it be cooking a meal at the Ronald McDonald house, Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army, or jumping off the edge of a building to raise money, it’s a value that our team genuinely enjoys – and has the opportunity to do good together!
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| RMCH Red Socks |
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| Over the Edge – CHARISM |
Going out of your way isn’t limited to volunteering around the community. An act of kindness doesn’t go unnoticed at work, either. You know those coworkers who bring in baked goods? Those cookies seem to call your name from the break room. Before you know it you’ve eaten twelve. Huge thank you goes out to those coworkers – you know who you are.
Go out of your way to celebrate a coworker. Whether it be a birthday, an anniversary, or maybe an office baby shower! Celebrate them and acknowledge big moments in their life, too.
4.) Get Up and Get Movin’
We can be honest. Sitting at a desk, or doing any kind of job can get monotonous. Having an outlet to move around can actually improve the quality of your work and help with your focus. Which is why spike ball is a popular sport around here!
A company outing, however, might be just what a busy office needs. Arrange a day or an afternoon to get some of your employees in a setting other than the office. For our company, that day consisted of friendly competitions to test the talents of each employee – the OSClympics. We hope to see more of these events in the future, so stay tuned. For now, enjoy these photos and appreciate every facial expression.
The best motivation is knowing you can improve. What’s even better is knowing the steps you need to take to get there. Though I’ve only been with this company a short period of time, I feel nothing short of appreciated. When I started working here, I was fully informed on what I can do to grow from this position into the next. Personally, knowing gave me a sense of purpose and motivated me to do more and continue to grow. Simply informing employees of this room for growth helps them see the bigger picture and encourage them to work hard (and play hard).
With all that, we still manage to do a little work while we’re here. My advice to you, in short, is to take initiative to genuinely enjoy going to work each day. I know I do. Start incorporating scooters into your workplace to quickly get yourself from point A to point B – in style. Have nerf gun wars when the day needs to be spiced up a bit. Nonchalantly change the playlist on your coworkers just to throw them for a loop.
What kind of workplace culture do you get to be a part of, and do you have any recommendations for us? This is our “open door” policy in full swing. Pun intended. That being said, we’re always open to feedback, comments, and overall suggestions! Whether it be advice to add to our culture, or maybe you’d like a closer look at something we offer. Regardless, our door is open and we love hearing from our customers. Cheers!
Written by: Rylee Wznick
