By Matt Rizai, CEO, Workiva

 

The past few years have seen a shift in the way people think about workplace culture. While culture was once viewed as something that emerged organically without thought or intention, there is a growing realization that culture plays a key role in the success or failure of organizations. Companies that are thoughtful in shaping their culture reap many benefits, such as the ability to attract and retain top talent and nurture loyal, satisfied customers.

 

People Over Process

 

One of the biggest indicators of a vibrant workplace culture is the willingness of a company to place more value on its people than on process. People are the prize - and organizations that recognize that will earn a competitive advantage over ones that stay focused on process. This people-centric view can be thought of as the “people economy,” a term that acknowledges the vital role individuals play in organizational success. In the people economy, employees aren’t viewed merely as headcount, but rather as the engine that spurs innovation, drives market growth, satisfies customers, and builds brand value.

 

Technology plays an important role in the people economy, allowing companies to explore new ways of working that meet the needs of today’s diverse workforce. Technologies such as cloud computing, collaboration software, and mobile devices, enable new levels of flexibility and control and help people perform at their best. 

 

Principles of the People Economy

 

What should organizations keep in mind as they navigate the people economy? At Workiva, we’ve developed a few high-level guidelines that we believe are fundamental to building a workplace culture that attracts and rewards a company’s most important asset: its people.

 

    Develop policies and ways of working that put people first. When people are given an active role in deciding how they work, they are more likely to view their relationship to the company in a positive way. Create more buy-in from your people by encouraging open dialogue and collaboration, inviting feedback, and valuing innovative ideas.      Choose tools and solutions that enable creativity without sacrificing security. Tools and solutions that are well designed and easy to use make a big difference in how people feel about their work. It also improves their productivity. Look for solutions developed with users in mind, and choose cloud-based software that offers enterprise-level security while allowing people to connect anywhere at any time.     Enable more flexibility in working arrangements. The traditional “9-to-5” office model is an outdated, rigid arrangement that serves a limited set of people. In a global economy driven by disparate workers, companies can be far more flexible about where and when people work, allowing HR to find the best talent, regardless of location. When the focus is on results, rather than on the times when people work, everyone wins.     Spend time on the numbers that really matter. Many performance metrics are not designed with people in mind. Take a closer look at what you’re measuring - and determine whether they truly align with your culture and your business goals. 

 A company thrives when its people thrive. Happier people make better products and services. In turn, they build stronger, more resilient companies. By taking an active role in the people economy, organizations can cultivate a workforce that feels valued, challenged, and fulfilled. And that’s good for everyone.

Original author: PayPal-Forward