As employees – we all have a major role to play in employer branding.
Employer Branding initiatives and discussions around building an employee value proposition often put a lot of emphasis on the organization and the leadership teams. By no means does this mean that employees are off the hook!
Here are the 3 things that every employee should be doing to foster a great work environment:
- Don’t Let Things Fester
We’ve all been there – our manager or the leadership team makes a call we disagree with. It begins a cycle of silent score-keeping – how many “wrong calls” before people start leaving? Or, it becomes part of that chatter around the water cooler or lunch table. We complain to our colleagues, contributing to a cycle of criticism. In either case, we create a lens for ourselves that negatively colours how we perceive everything going forward.
Imagine a work environment where employees spoke directly with their manager and/or the individual they have an issue with, instead of holding it in? We understand that people may be afraid to speak directly about their concerns but holding it in isn’t healthy for you or your organization. It’s important to find a way to respectfully express concerns you have with the direction of the team. Perhaps there are factors you are aware of that might change the perspective of the decision-maker – or maybe they will change your perspective.
- Contribute
Building on the need to speak directly about concerns; it’s important to be constructive, especially if you don’t like how something is working! If you have a good idea – share it and contribute to the solution.
Each individual brings something different to the table as a product of their own experiences and background. A team can be so much greater than just the sum of its parts, especially when each person has the opportunity to work to their own strengths. Every employee has a responsibility to share their unique outlook with their team in a way that helps to improve the overall organization.
- Give Back
You’ve heard the saying “In order to have a friend, first be a friend”? It’s up to the organization to provide employees with the opportunity to participate and to live the brand – but it’s up to the employees to take that opportunity. It’s a great way to build your own understanding of what it means to be a part of the company you represent. Be proud of the work you do and who you do it with and find ways to share that with the larger community. This could be as simple as taking new team members under your wing to help them ramp up. It could take the shape of volunteering with organizations that share your corporate values, or giving back to students in your industry. Since we get the culture we build – helping others within your organization will not only make you feel good; it will foster a collaborative and friendly environment.
Every organization is made up of the people who work within it. We are all responsible for creating culture through our actions and interactions with each other on a daily basis. There is no way a company can create a great place to work without the full participation of their employees.