Beaches to Boardrooms: Avoid the Summer Slide and Leverage the Sun to Build Strong Workplace Culture Instead

The sun’s rays have a remarkable ability to stimulate the production of serotonin, a hormone associated with enhancing mood, fostering calmness, and improving focus. So, as the summer season is in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the perfect time for those who can, to get outdoors, soak up the sun, and engage in activities that promote personal relaxation and well-being. This natural phenomenon of increased serotonin also presents an excellent opportunity for companies to harness the energy of the summer’s sun and channel it into better understanding and building a positive culture. After all, thriving cultures need connection.

While it is true that developing and maintaining a strong workplace culture requires year-round effort and attention, the summer offers a distinct advantage for companies seeking to strengthen culture. The elevated mood and energy associated with the summer can create an ideal environment for team building and fostering deeper connections among employees, leaders, and even clients! However, when attempting to capitalize on the benefits of summer, companies must recognize that not everyone will have the same opportunities or preferences when it comes to connecting. Therefore, it’s important to provide a variety of options that allow individuals to connect and engage in ways that resonate with them because human connection lies at the heart of business success.

To make the most of this season, companies can focus on three key areas:

1. Team Building Activities: Seize the opportunity to invest in team-building activities that embrace inclusivity and consider diverse preferences and abilities. Engaging in a range of activities can help foster camaraderie and trust among employees. Whether it’s organizing company picnics in accessible locations, hosting virtual team-building events, or providing options for flexible participation, companies can ensure that everyone feels included and valued. These activities provide a platform for individuals to connect on a personal level, strengthening relationships and enhancing collaboration in the workplace.

2. Transparent and Open Lines of Communication: With employees taking vacations or working remotely, maintaining a cohesive and connected workforce becomes crucial. To ensure effective communication and alignment, companies should emphasize and actively demonstrate transparent and open lines of communication during the summer months. Regular check-ins, team meetings, and virtual gatherings can bridge the gap and ensure that everyone remains informed and engaged despite the distance. Additionally, leveraging digital collaboration tools and platforms can facilitate seamless communication, enabling employees to share ideas, collaborate on projects, and stay connected regardless of their physical location.

3. Encouraging and Prioritizing Breaks: When it comes to fortifying culture, actions speak louder than words. Offering flexibility in work schedules, promoting what we at Chapter tOO refer to as life-work balance to signify that life should come before work, and providing opportunities for rejuvenation and self-care can contribute to a happier and more motivated workforce. Gestures like offering healthy snacks, encouraging breaks and time-off to recharge, having early closures or slow down periods, or organizing wellness activities can go a long way in nurturing employee well-being and fostering a culture that values and supports the whole person.

#GemAlert

Strong culture = higher productivity, profitability, and employee engagement! 

The benefits of a strong company culture are well-documented. According to Forbes contributor Benjamin Laker, in his essay ‘Culture is A Company’s Single Most Powerful Advantage. Here’s Why,’ research has shown that companies with strong cultures have seen a 4x increase in revenue growth. Furthermore, companies that have appeared on Fortune’s annual ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ list have also experienced higher average annual returns, with cumulative returns as high as 495% instead of 170% (Russell 3000) and 156% (S&P 500).’ These numbers make it easy to understand why building a strong corporate culture is essential for any business that wants to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace.

In summary, as the summer season presents a unique opportunity for companies to capitalize on the uplifting spirit and energy that accompanies this time of year, prioritizing team-building activities, fostering transparent communication, and nurturing a positive work environment is the key to avoiding the business version of the “summer slide”. When companies embrace the ‘beaches to boardroom mindset’, they can leverage the summer’s positive influence to propel their teams towards greater collaboration, engagement, and success.

To learn more about how we can help you optimize your workplace for engagement and avoid the summer slide, connect with us here! In the meantime, we’re going to be catching some of these rays, too!