Do you like your employer? If not, what would you change?

[Mamamiapia]

I run a small company, 20 employees and want to nurture a positive culture. Since growing from 10-20 employees it has become more challenging as I tried to keep it very flexible and based on trust. As I loose slight of more and more activities I struggle to gauge if we are still in a good place. Do you work in a good working environment? What motivates you, helps you thrive and be productive? What do you love about your employer and working environment?

If it's not all good, what would you like changed/fixed and why?

Have a great vision, set meaningful goals that are achievable maybe with a bit of a stretch, be clear on who is accountable for delivering what and then let them get on with delivering it. Check in on progress (regularly but not too often) and coach to course correct as needed.

congratulate people on a job well done.

deal with poor performance, don’t let it linger.

Role model the culture you want to develop.

Have clarity on overall direction and strategy and priorities.
Make sure everyone knows how their contribution counts (without being insincere or patronising)
Have clear lines of responsibility and accountability.
Deal with poor performance promptly (and use the probation period properly to address issues early)
Be consistent.
Don't have "favourites"
Reward the positives
Behave well yourself

Talk to each employee.

Understand their personal ambitions and d how they match with your corporate ambitions. Find a way to meet them both.

Make employees feel heard. Even if their wants aren't actioned, explain why not.

Value them and show them not just through words.

Understand that everyone is different- some will be more introverted and others extrovert. Both types have different qualities and need different working environments to get the best out of them.
If you force an introvert into a loud open plan office, they will be very stressed. Allow them to have a quiet space and working from home if they choose.
On the other hand, an extrovert may hate to work from home and will be happier with others around them.

Crystal clear clarity on roles and responsibilities so people know exactly who is responsible for what. None of this flexible pitch in as necessary bullshit because the hardest workers will always take the brunt of the workload.

Give new starters a proper induction and train them to do the job you have recruited them for. Too many employers want people to hit the ground running and the consequence is that a lot of people don't have a fecking clue what they're supposed to be doing. I am absolutely fed up of dealing with companies whose staff are useless through no fault of their own.

Agree with pp above that said everyone is different and be more understanding of work styles. Not everyone wants to be shoe horned into a hot desking open plan office. Ugh!

Don’t allow uppity middle managers to smile and nod along to your vision, but then enforce a 1920’s approach to staff management because they have some warped vision that it will make them look better.

And conduct genuine exit interviews preferably yourself.