Last month, we launched our new HR GameChangers series where we bring in industry experts to discuss employee engagement and company culture. 

Check out our first episode: The New Era of Engagement 

Episode 2 was incredibly insightful, and we’re so excited to share the recording and recap with you all! During this event, our speakers shared strategies and tools to build a thriving culture. 

As we discussed this topic, we also highlighted GoProfiles—an AI-powered employee engagement tool designed to help companies foster deeper connections and strengthen engagement. 

Watch the entire conversation below, or keep reading for a full webinar recap. 

Building a Thriving Culture: Quick recap

Here’s a quick introduction to our amazing panel this episode: 

• Joie Lim, Learning Consultant at LifeLabs Learning
• Radina Walsh, People Advisor at Vox Advisory
• Charlie Saffro, Chief Executive Officer at CS Recruiting

Our panelists shared so many great nuggets of information. Here are some of their key points and quotes from the webinar: 

The impact of poor culture on engagement and productivity

85% of employees are disengaged due to poor culture, which can also lead to a 26% reduction in productivity. On top of that, 34% of employees leave their jobs due to poor culture. 

Radina shared that in her experience, these numbers may even be higher, especially after COVID. Job seekers prioritize culture, feeling respected, and having the right tools to do their job well.

The importance of inclusivity and diversity

Inclusivity and diversity are critical for a thriving workplace culture. Our panel shared how feeling a sense of belonging is a vital human need, and exclusion can be detrimental. 

To create a more inclusive and diverse workplace culture, the panelists recommend getting to know employees as individuals beyond their titles, nurturing curiosity about others’ backgrounds, and giving people time before making judgments. 

“You don’t want to just keep hiring the same profile that’s going to have the same experience and ideas. You want people to come in with fresh perspectives.” – Charlie Saffro

Effective ways to recognize and reward employees

The panelists shared some great ways to recognize and reward employees, including:

• Take a multigenerational approach to understanding different employee needs
• Give positive feedback in the moment, both privately and publicly
• Cater to individuals’ preferred appreciation languages 
• Simple gestures like handwritten cards can make a big impact
• Trial different approaches and get employee feedback

“One area that we really need to be mindful of is incorporating a multi-generational approach.” – Radina Walsh

Encouraging open communication and feedback

To encourage open communication and feedback, transparency from leadership is critical. Psychological safety is needed for people to feel they can speak up without retribution. Leaders should exemplify the right communication behaviors. Individuals need training on how to have productive conflict conversations and give receivable feedback. Anonymous surveys can also provide a safety check. 

“Transparency is something that needs to be embedded — and it’s a top-down approach.” – Radina Walsh 

Training leaders to support and enhance culture

To train leaders to better support workplace culture, focus on developing their human skills like communication, curiosity, and empathy, not just technical leadership skills. Leadership’s behaviors set the standard for the organization. 

The panel suggested providing leadership training and opportunities for reflection on what good leadership looks like. If budgets are tight, expose leaders to thought-provoking content like TED Talks and podcasts to inspire them.

“I think we often forget about the human skills that enable people to be their best selves at work.” – Joie Lim

Addressing toxic workplace culture

To address a toxic workplace culture, it’s important to distinguish between difficult employees with potential and truly toxic behaviors that spread. Nip toxic behaviors in the bud quickly. Investigate the root causes, both individual and systemic. 

When talking to leadership, frame the impact of toxic culture in terms of productivity and financial costs to get their attention.

“Being able to define ‘what do we want our culture to really be?’ and ‘what do we want to make people feel at the end of the day?’ is so important.” – Joie Lim 

Resources from the webinar

Our speakers also shared some great resources throughout the webinar. Here’s where you can find those resources: 

• The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace
• A Message from Airbnb Co-Founder and CEO Brian Chesky 
• The FBI Feedback Formula 
• Play at Work: How Games Inspire Breakthrough Thinking

How GoProfiles improves culture

As discussed in the webinar, a healthy culture can make or break a company. GoProfiles is an AI-powered employee engagement platform designed to improve culture by providing personalized insights and fostering meaningful connections among team members.

By leveraging AI, GoProfiles helps HR teams identify engagement gaps, recognize employee contributions, and create a more inclusive and productive workplace culture. Click here to try it for free.

Join the conversation: Register today!

Whether you’re an experienced HR leader or new to the field, these HR GameChanger sessions offer valuable insights and inspiration.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from the best and stay ahead in the ever-changing world of HR. Register now for the third webinar on October 10th, and mark your calendar!