Building a positive culture is truly a team effort. But each of us can contribute with small, meaningful actions.

Work can get busy.  But while we are on the grind, it’s easy to overlook the importance of workplace culture. According to Harvard, the average adult living in the United States will spend 90,000 hours — or one-third of their lives — at work. With that much time invested, building a healthy environment is critical. Now, before you say, “culture starts with leadership,” we encourage everyone to consider that every employee plays a part in building culture. Let’s look at some simple steps you can take to make a difference in your workplace culture.

Get to Know Your Teammates:

Building genuine connections is the foundation of team spirit. And there are a lot of little ways to get started. One tip is to ask each of your teammates about their favorite coffee drink, sweet treat or hobbies. Then, use these tidbits to help celebrate special occasions like birthdays and work anniversaries. Simple thoughtful gestures go a long way toward building comradery

Start a Decorating Tradition:

Inject some fun and festivity into the workplace by starting a decorating tradition. Our team loves to go all out decorating desks for holidays like Valentine’s Day, Halloween and the Holiday Season. It adds a real sense of creativity and whimsy to the office. If you want to take things to the next level, or just live for competition, consider turning decorating into a contest!

Share Homemade Treats/Your Passion

If you have a knack for baking or enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, consider using those skills to bless your team. Even store-bought goodies or snacks are a hit around our team. Or if you are more of a taste-tester like me, that is ok too! The real takeaway here is to use your unique blend of skills and passions to bless your co-workers. No one else can bring your unique element of workplace culture to the table.

Care for each other

At Apex, we are tenacious caregivers. For me that goes beyond the work I do for clients and extends to my teammates as well. Some people like to keep their work and personal life separate. And that is totally acceptable. However, pay attention to how your teammates are doing. If you notice that someone seems down or is acting differently, check in! Asking how someone is doing can make a big difference in someone’s day.

Building a positive culture is truly a team effort. But each of us can contribute with small, meaningful actions. From building new connections and traditions to simply sharing our passion and care, each of us plays a role in shaping the workplace. Start taking small steps today to build a culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and inspired.