New year, new you: Improving company culture

Company culture—the shared beliefs, values, and behaviours of your team—is one of the most important aspects of any business. However, it can be difficult to maintain a positive company culture within an accounting firm. With tight deadlines, long hours, and ever-changing regulations, it can be easy for employees to become overwhelmed and stressed out. A great company culture can lead to better client service, increased employee loyalty and improved job satisfaction. It's also important for retaining talent and promoting a positive brand image. That’s why it's essential to make company culture your firm’s priority for 2023. 

Create a positive work environment  

Creating an environment where employees feel valued and respected is the first step. This could include introducing flexible working hours, offering regular feedback sessions, team-building activities or social events. These are all useful ways to show your team that you care about them and their wellbeing, which will result in happier and more productive staff members who take pride in their work. 

Set clear expectations  

When everyone knows what their roles and responsibilities are, they'll be more motivated to do their best work. It’s also helpful to provide regular feedback—positive and constructive—so that employees feel supported and know what areas they need to focus on going forward.  

Celebrate achievements  

It’s easy to get bogged down in day-to-day tasks without taking the time to appreciate what your team has achieved. Celebrating achievements is a great way to boost morale and show appreciation for all the hard work your employees put in every day. Whether it’s arranging a team lunch or hosting an awards ceremony at the end of each quarter, recognizing successes can go a long way towards creating a positive company culture.  

Invest in training and development opportunities  

Providing your staff with training opportunities is key to creating a strong company culture this year. Investing in professional development helps ensure that team members are up-to-date on industry trends, regulations, client management skills and more. Plus, it gives them the chance to develop their technical expertise so they can confidently complete tasks efficiently and accurately. This will give them a sense of purpose and help them become better problem solvers which will ultimately benefit your business.  

Create open dialogue  

Encourage your team to speak up when they have an idea or opinion about something related to their work or the overall office environment. This will help create a sense of trust and respect between everyone involved and make it easier for managers to listen to what their team has to say. Additionally, having open dialogue will give staff members the chance to provide feedback on how things are going in the office, making sure everyone is on the same page regarding goals and expectations.  

Encourage breaks  

It sounds obvious, but when you're working in a busy practice, it can be easy to forget about taking breaks or even worse – feel guilty for taking them. Reminding staff members (and yourself!) to take regular breaks throughout the day can work wonders. Time away from your desks can help you feel refreshed and ready to tackle whatever tasks lie ahead. It also promotes physical and mental wellbeing, as well as forming better relationships with each other outside of work.  

Lead by example 

It’s easy for employees (and managers) alike to get bogged down by stress or anxiety. As a practice owner it's important that you lead by example by promoting positive reinforcement throughout the office. An example of this could be simply thanking someone for their hard work on a project – no matter how small. Fostering this type of environment from the top down will ensure that everyone feels appreciated.  

Creating a good company culture doesn't have to be complicated or expensive - just thoughtful and consistent. As we enter 2023, now is the perfect time for you to reassess your approach. By setting clear expectations for employees, investing in training, bringing the team together and celebrating successes along the way - you can create a healthy environment where everyone feels supported and valued.