Having a strong company culture is essential to providing a workplace where employees feel valued, fulfilled, and ultimately motivated and inspired to do their very best. While the importance of cultivating a strong company culture has been prevalent for some time, its intensity has grown significantly following the pandemic and the “Great Resignation.” A recent study details that 35% of American workers wouldn't take a job that was a perfect fit if the organizational culture clashed with their values.
Employees want to be part of an organization that actually cares and shows it through their actions, culture, compensation, benefits, perks, and more.
Knowing the extremely large value that having a strong culture has on the workforce, why is it that companies are not able to achieve this? The answer is simple: they don’t know how. At New Home Star, we have spent over a decade formulating a unique culture that empowers employees to strive for excellence and is something that we are constantly trying to enhance because we understand our people are the heart of everything we do. Here are some of the most influential practices that have proven to be key ingredients to our unique approach:
Recognize & Reward
Showcasing appreciation is a no-brainer when it comes to creating a strong and inclusive culture. Who wouldn’t want to feel valued and appreciated? Recognition comes in many shapes and sizes and can range from small achievements to major milestones to anything in between. Providing recognition and rewards is a huge motivating factor for many. According to a survey by Great Places to Work, when employees receive a gold star for their efforts, they are 2.2 times more likely to go above and beyond their regular duties, drive innovation, and bring new ideas forward.
In addition to recognizing team members on a local level by our leadership team, we also invest heavily in rewarding employees for their performance on a national scale through exhilarating contests and initiatives, excellence awards, and custom-curated gifts for professional and personal milestones. We have found that offering more creative and intentional avenues to showcase gratitude and reward our employees has been the most successful.
Provide Balance & Fulfillment
Gone are the days of workplaces without balance, a key necessity for everyone in the workforce. Balance also comes in all shapes and forms too, and can provide great fulfillment, which is why we invest so heavily in it. Our wellness program has been a great addition to our suite of perks at the organization, as it ties in physical and mental health for our team members through internal challenges, initiatives, webinars, and even our Employee Assistance Program that family members can access as well.
Another huge part of providing balance and fulfillment at our organization is the emphasis placed on giving in meaningful ways to our local communities, which is one of our core values. A survey by Deloitte found that today’s Gen Z and Millennial employees feel the need to balance work lives with a drive for societal change. In return, employees feel a heightened level of commitment to their company and team, helping increase overall productivity and satisfaction.
Not only are employees at NHS encouraged to spend work hours volunteering their time in their local communities with non-profit organizations and charities of their choice, but every division receives a large annual budget to utilize on financial, charitable donations. This has instrumentally helped our team members feel more fulfilled and connected to the organization and the causes that mean most to them.
Invest in Growth & Development
89% of employees claim professional development is one of the most motivating factors in career satisfaction, 76% of which attributed the pandemic as the reason for such high interest. There is a real desire for people to learn and grow, and investing in development is a must for a workplace that wants to continue to provide a culture built upon innovation and advancement. The robust development NHS provides to sales agents is unlike anything else in the industry — it’s not a one-and-done training but a full suite of curriculum, tools, and resources to help develop and arm them to consistently sharpen the saw.
Additional perks and programs for professional development, relocation opportunities, and innovation within the organization are always ready and available from both a national and local level to ensure transparency is offered and that each individual feels like they are in the driver’s seat of their career path.
People are craving to discover how they can align their professional and personal needs in today’s workforce, and they are willing to sacrifice to achieve it. Companies from all industries need to embrace this shift, or they will get left behind. Empowerment, appreciation, and inclusivity are all a must to ensure employee satisfaction and longevity. Our team at NHS is excited to continue evolving the practices we have in place and igniting innovation to make it even better. By doing so, we are confident we will get even closer to our vision of “Being the Best New Home Sales Company in the World.”
