The Ontario Broker - August 2019 - 40

6 WAYS

EMPLOYEES CAN BOOST OFFICE CULTURE

M

uch of a company's culture
often comes from the
top. The values and goals
of a company create the
environment that the culture grows in.
That said, each and every employee
contributes to the collective personality
of the company and individually they
can make an impact. While it's best
to run ideas by management before
implementing anything, most of these
require no investment from the company
to get going. They just need someone to
take the initiative.

PICK A CAUSE

BRING IN TREATS

Giving back to the community is good
in and of itself, but it can also bring you
and your coworkers together. Whether
it's working with Habitat for Humanity,
organizing a blood drive or getting
involved in specific opportunities within
your community, there's always a need
for volunteers and donations. Plus, good
deeds will balance out the bad karma you
got from cutting that guy off on the way
to work this morning.

There are few things that bring people
together more than free food. The
occasional box of Timbits is a small
investment that can go a long way in
creating goodwill among coworkers. Or
for a healthier option, try fresh fruit.
Though we both know which one will
make you more popular.

CREATE A SHARED INTEREST

With so many media options, water
cooler shows have become a thing of
the past, especially now that Game of
Thrones is over. Have your coworkers
take turns selecting a Netflix Pick of
the Week (or month) so people have a
movie in common to talk about. It's like
starting an office book club without all
that pesky reading.

GET FIT TOGETHER

Organizing a fitness challenge can increase
the general fitness level of any office, but it
can also add friendly competition.* If this
seems too involved for your workplace,
coordinate an afternoon stretch session to
get people out of their chairs-it may feel
a little silly at first, but that's a necessary
first step to getting more comfortable with
one another.

AUGUST 2019

40

DECORATE YOUR SPACE

Bringing in a piece of art and a few
plants for your cubicle might seem
like something just for you, but it
shows coworkers you care about your
space and want it to feel comfortable.
It won't be long before others notice
and start following your cue. Of
course, your art choices must be work
appropriate-best to leave those
tasteful nudes at home.
ORGANIZE POTLUCK LUNCHES

Eating together is one of the oldest
ways to build community. The beauty
of a potluck is it gives people the
opportunity to express themselves and
share a bit of their own culture and
skills with others. To ensure you get a
good variety, you'll want to use a signup
sheet-otherwise everyone might end
up bringing potato salad.
*See page 37 in our April issue for more
details!

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The Ontario Broker - August 2019

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