A positive organizational culture is one of the most critical elements of business success. A healthy workplace culture helps employees thrive, attracts high-performing talent, and ensures a positive experience for patients and others who interact with your team.
In this time of burnout and staffing shortages, investing in your practice culture is more important than ever. Here’s what a positive practice culture looks like and how to achieve it.
What a Positive Practice Culture Looks Like
A positive practice culture fosters collaboration, productivity, and trust – and helps ensure that everyone is aligned in their efforts to deliver high-quality patient care. Culture is imparted from the top down and is best led by high-level leadership, such as the owners or principals. In places with a positive culture, work-life balance is respected, the staff is given autonomy and respect, support structures and resources are in place, leaders are visible, and transparent communication is valued. Employees are able to make suggestions, raise concerns, and take the initiative without fear of repercussions. They also have a clear understanding of the organization’s values, mission, purpose, and goals – and are empowered to share in them.
Practices with a positive workplace culture can attract and retain high-quality staff, have low levels of turnover or absenteeism. This leads to better outcomes not just for the team but for patients and contractors as well.
Tips for Creating a Positive Practice Culture
Creating and maintaining a positive practice culture requires an investment of time and resources. But the more you put in, the more you’ll get back. Here are a few tips for creating a workplace environment that will enjoy enviable staff buy-in.
- Open up communication. Ensure everyone is clear about expectations and job roles and can speak up if they have a question or comment. Provide regular forums or channels to facilitate this and encourage people to use them.
- Provide adequate resources. Make sure your employees have everything they need to do their job well. Clearly define roles and tasks and provide access to everyday materials as well as opportunities to learn and grow. Removing the guesswork from a job inspires confidence and trust.
- Celebrate your mission. Define your mission, purpose, goals, and brand and share them with your staff. They’ll be more inclined to be part of something that feels real, cohesive, and mission driven.
- Reward your staff. Show your employees that they matter. Whether through remuneration, workplace perks, paid leave, workplace flexibility, job advancement, or just positive feedback, make sure you let your staff know that they’re valuable to the team.
- Take “temperature” checks. Cultural temperature checks let you see how people are feeling and doing. Regularly check in to confirm that things are going well and learn about any issues that might need to be dealt with.
- Discourage overwork. Burnout leads to poor performance and attrition. Make sure staff aren’t staying back late and that they’re not overworked. Breaks – including lunch breaks – should be treated as sacred, and employees struggling to meet their responsibilities should be supported with training or support staff.
- Create an inviting premise. Where you work affects how you work. An appealing workplace with access to natural light, streamlined workflows, and convenient transit access shows that you value your staff’s time and wellbeing.
Creating a positive practice culture requires a long-term commitment and a holistic approach. Stick with it, and you’ll reap the rewards.
Talk to GZ About How a New Address Can Elevate Your Culture
There are many elements that come together to create a powerful, positive practice culture. At Gittleson Zuppas Medical Realty, we’ve seen firsthand how vital a workspace is to foster a positive workplace. If your practice culture is being let down by your location, talk to us about finding a space deserving of your employees – and patients. We’ll help you put your best foot forward regarding the most important part of your business: the people.