We are quickly approaching the end of 2017 and as tradition, we begin to think of ways to improve our lives especially with regards, to our health. However, in a similar vain, what are some of the improvements that organizations are doing? This same thinking should be applied to the organization as we think of its health.

Organizational health is about making a company function at its optimum which involves building a cohesive leadership team, establishing clarity among those leaders, communicating that clarity and putting it in place with just enough structure and resources to reinforce that clarity going forward. However, when speaking about structure, not every aspect needs to be changed. In fact, if the structure works, keep it! If it is comfortable, and many persons understand it, then progress is happening, which is important but so is effectiveness and efficiency.

Here are a few examples of cases that can signal it is time to implement change:

Technology - Make sure you stay relevant, whether that means training, hiring new employees to bring in needed skills or restructuring some of your business processes. You need to analyze if the organization is up to date with the innovations in the industry, even as far as utilizing Social Media.

High Turnover - If you are not holding on to employees as long as you expected, you need to find out why. Be proactive, reach out to your employees to see if they are happy or what may be limiting them from being happy while on the job. It can be as simple as the culture needs to be improved. Utilize engagement surveys. Happy employees = Happy clients!

Company Performance - Is productivity at its optimum? Are the Organizational goals being attained? Is the mission of the Organization being executed? If these are not currently occurring, it is time to evaluate why and work on closing the gaps. Thus to improve on the company’s performance, certain provisions should be made, these would include, adequate employee training, motivational measures, reorganization of teams and new resources. It is also very helpful to encourage your employees to make suggestions to improve efficiency.

It is not always possible to predict when change should happen, after all, the signs can be subtle but you can keep your eyes and ears open for the signs. This gives you more time to prepare for success.

Happy 2018!

 As a rising organization seeking to achieve durable success, you need to produce and maintain a healthy atmosphere for your workplace. A healthy organization also needs a collaborative effort to compete in its market segment and produce continuous profits. In addition, identifying and understanding these characteristics can help you avoid issues within your company like insolvency and you may be able to adapt some corrective steps to operate victoriously.

With that being said, healthy organizations have specific characteristics embedded in their culture which stipulates progress. They are typically characterized by a high level of teamwork and engagement. Here are seven characteristics I chose to enable a healthy organization but this list is not exhaustive.

1. A well-formulated Organizational structure – This is the formal and informal policies and actions companies use for simplifying and leading their business operations. Organizational structures can be valuable because it helps business owners create a management chain to ensure all locations operate according to the company’s standards and ripen their decision-making process. It also seeks to improve employee performance while spending more time concentrating on customer service.

2. Great Leadership at all levels - Discovering upright leaders has always been a critical issue for countless organizations. We should strive towards developing leader duties by more than just sending them to training programs. It will be refreshing if we actually place potential leaders in positions that encourage them to expand their current skill sets, continuously mentor and support them so they can steadily shape their capabilities to adapt to and manage the many changes that the company will go through.

3. Effective Communication is authentic and clear – Communication can build or break a company. It takes successful communication when working as a team, binding them together and even individually because you still need to communicate with suppliers and your customers. In managing your business, you should be able to tell employees what is expected of them. Good communication can resolve conflict, or better yet, prevent them from emerging in the first place.

4. Strong Team Spirit - Whether large or small, teams are becoming increasingly vital to businesses these days. We are also recognizing that teams allow businesses to maximize productivity and profits once they are functioning correctly. Employers should unforcedly set the pace and encourage employees to make the effort in connecting with their colleagues to the best of their ability. This not only improves the drive and general mood of each member, but similarly, it helps them feel like an integral part of the organization and provides a positive culture.

5. High Employee Morale – This particular characteristic has been proven to have a direct effect on productivity and it is one of the cornerstones of business. Developing and upholding a good momentum begins with hiring the right people initially. When employees are confident about their work environment and trust that they can meet their most important career and professional needs, employee morale is high. Ensure persons clearly understand their role, their impression on customers and how they bring value to the organization. Management should continuously provide feedback and deliver relevant training to stimulate this understanding. Additionally, include participation from your employees to sustain a vibrant management-employee relationship.

6. Growth & Development – It must be recognized that a high performing company is initiated by employees’ growth and development. Why you may ask? These openings help employees increase their capabilities and apply this new knowledge to enhance their responsibilities. The opportunity to gain new skills and experiences can intensify employee motivation and job satisfaction. Thereby, helping workers to manage pressure on the job more effectively. For that reason, growth and development opportunities can be converted into positive gains for the organization.

7. Identify and adapt to Opportunities – Remember, change is inevitable and it is the one constant in any business. Coping with and adapting to change are essential skills, especially in the workplace. It is both a survival skill and a success skill. Understand that your business can be left behind or experience a big loss in sales and revenue if you refuse to embrace change. This can include changing the model of your business, acquiring new technology or replacing an employee. You need to know how to accept and manage change.