GUIDE
Elevating your organization as an authentic ‘Best Place To Work’
- Once your employees recognize and can articulate what makes your company special, it is time to amplify it externally.
Are you striving to see your organization listed among the ‘best places to work’?
It’s a common aspiration and one that involves more than just a simple formula. The true challenge lies in aligning your company’s internal culture and values with the expectations and experiences of your workforce.
Authentic recognition matters more than quick fixes
What really goes into making one of the workplace lists? You could (and many companies do) simply ask your employees to respond positively to anonymous surveys or write fluffed up reviews on sites. What’s the risk in that? For one, inauthentic reviews and awards not based on reality lead to a misalignment between your external employer brand (or what the marketplace or candidates see) and the authentic employee experience. That misalignment can cause poor candidate experience, low employee engagement, and ultimately higher attrition. The risk does not outweigh the increased brand awareness.
Identifying and leveraging your organization’s differentiators
So, how do you authentically become a best place to work? Every organization has unique attributes that set it apart. The key is to identify what these are for your company. What makes your company and culture special? What sets you out from other employers? What rituals do you have in place?
Here are some ideas to help you discover and implement differentiators that can transform your workplace:
Whether your company shares some of the above attributes or you have different ones, like fostering unique rituals and traditions that reflect your organizational values, offering innovative work-life balance initiatives, or emphasizing a strong commitment to social responsibility and community engagement, identifying and amplifying such differentiators is crucial. These initiatives help in creating an environment that truly stands out. Remember, it’s not just about having unique qualities, but also about how effectively you integrate them into your company culture and how well you communicate them to both your employees and externally. By doing so, you not only enhance your workplace but also strengthen your brand’s perception and authenticity in the market.
Capitalizing on your differentiators
Now that you have identified how your company stands out from the crowd, you need to capitalize on what makes you special. Before amplifying your differentiators externally, you need to do so internally. Your employees should recognize and understand what sets you apart – your people are your best advocates!
At Pariveda, we openly discuss our differentiators so when they’re experienced, they’re recognized. We point them out throughout the lifecycle of our employees – during the interview process, town halls, firmwide communications, semi-annual review process, mentor meetings, and team standups.
Once your employees recognize the differentiators, you will want to measure the effectiveness of the messaging and ensure it aligns with the employee experience. Starting with internal employee engagement surveys will ensure alignment before you launch external awards surveys or review campaigns.
Amplifying the message outside of your organization
Once your employees recognize and can articulate what makes your company special, it is time to amplify it externally. The process doesn’t happen overnight, but the benefits of taking the right steps and defining your differentiators and ensuring they align with the employee experience will far outweigh the negative impact of amplifying an inauthentic employer brand.
This will lead to authentic reviews with substance and truthful survey responses, and in time, ideally your name on a ‘best place to work’ list.
If you’re interested in enhancing your internal culture and aligning your employer brand strategy, let’s talk.
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