Building a great company and positive work culture is an important component of a successful business. Work culture can positively impact recruiting efforts, employee engagement, productivity, and customer service. That’s why leading businesses build their culture around teamwork, a shared mission and vision, and transparency.

Statistics show that employees value open communication, trust, and transparency at work. According to research from Deloitte, 76% of employees indicated that a well-defined and clearly communicated mission statement helps foster a positive company culture. Learn why it’s important to build a transparent organization and find out five things you can do to create an open, honest work culture that attracts and retains top talent.

What is transparency at work

Everyone—from executives and managers to teammates and employees—should strive to be open and honest with one another in order to build a transparent organization. Communication and mutual respect are key components to successful transparency at work. Leading organizations known for trustworthiness follow these rules:

• Clearly communicate mission and vision

• Tell the truth

• Communicate early and often

• Share important information and documents

• Promote trust through other channels like social media outlets.

Why transparency at work is important

Numerous studies show that transparency is a top factor in determining employee happiness. And it’s well documented that happy employees are more engaged and productive. Modern employees, especially Millennials, also want to work for an organization that matches their values. Today’s workforce wants to know they are making an impact.

An honest, transparent work culture encourages innovation. Employees that feel valued and supported aren’t afraid to share ideas or think outside of the box. A transparent organization also benefits from better customer relationships. In fact, surveys show that two-thirds of consumers would spend more if buying from a transparent organization and 94% rank transparency as the great factor in brand loyalty.

Five ways to create a transparent organization

There are a number of things leaders can do to foster transparency at work. Prioritize open and honest communication and enable information to flow freely. Here are five practical ways HR can build a transparent work culture:

1. Provide tools for collaboration. Build channels that allow information to flow freely between employees and teams. Use a shared company-wide platform to communicate important announcements, improve collaboration on projects, and build camaraderie.

2. Deliver frequent feedback. It is important to provide frequent, honest feedback and be open to receiving the same. “Trust starts with honest, open dialogue, and the frequency of that dialogue matters just as much as the content itself.”

3. Maintain a positive environment. A positive, healthy environment provides numerous benefits to your workforce and your organization overall. A great work culture emboldens employees to share ideas and they’ll be more engaged, innovative, and confident to work in teams.

4. Nurture connections and relationships throughout the organization. Encourage employees to make connections with peers and mentors in other departments throughout the business. Be sure to include remote workers, part-time staff, and other employees who aren’t always in the office. When you prioritize the people in your organization, it strengthens transparency.

5. Ensure authentic and consistent communication. Consistent communication ensures that employees are in the know and helps keep everyone on the same page. Don’t be afraid to share both the good and the bad news to prevent misunderstandings and resentment.

Transparency and work culture

With strong executive leadership, consistent communication, and frequent feedback, you can create a more transparent organization. Learn how your work culture impacts employees and talent recruitment. Plus find out how Asure Software’s Talent Management solutions help you align candidate and employee experiences with your organization’s mission and values.