Building a positive workplace culture is about more than free snacks or Friday arvo drinks. It’s about creating an environment where people want to show up, roll up their sleeves, and do their best work.

You’ve probably heard the old chestnut: ‘Culture eats strategy for breakfast’. It’s a favourite for a reason. Even the flashiest business plan won’t get far if your team’s stuck in a toxic environment. Rudy Crous, CEO of Compono, says with productivity and reputation at risk, a negative workplace culture is something businesses can’t afford to ignore.

“Workplace culture is something businesses have struggled with for decades, with the consequences of a negative culture ranging from unproductive and unhappy workplaces to catastrophic events,” says Crous.

A toxic culture can be a silent killer of productivity, morale, and, ultimately, business success. So, how do you flick the bad vibes and build something better? Try these steps.

Five steps to a great workplace culture

Step 1: Call it out

Don’t sweep issues under the rug. If your workplace feels more like a pressure cooker than a productive space, it’s time to take a good, hard look. That means listening to your team, being open to feedback, and acknowledging when things aren’t working.

Workplace expert Michelle Gibbings says a toxic workplace culture won’t suddenly get better. “The longer it’s ignored, the worse it gets. Culture change isn’t instant. It takes time, and it starts with leaders owning the problem and committing to change,” Gibbings says.

Your aim is to create a workplace where everyone feels supported enough to voice their opinions without acrimony or recriminations.

Step 2: Be the change

Culture starts at the top. If you’re the boss, your behaviour sets the tone. That means showing up with integrity, communicating openly, and treating everyone with respect.

Gibbings says, “Culture is led and shaped by leaders. People watch how you behave, what you say, what you do, and what you don’t do. They notice the systems and processes, what’s rewarded and what’s not.”

If you’re preaching work-life balance but still burning the candle at bith ends, your staff aren’t going to buy your spiel.

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Step 3: Define your values

What does your business stand for? If you can’t answer that question, it’s time to pinpoint your values. Your business values arent a slogan or buzzwords; they’re the guiding principles that shape your decisions and behaviours.

Gibbings advises, “A strong culture aligns with your organisational purpose and values. Those values are lived, modelled and expected. They’re not just words on posters.”

So, take the time to define what matters most to your business, and make sure those values are reflected in everything you do.

Step 4: Walk the talk

Once you’ve defined your values, it’s time to live them. That means recognising and rewarding behaviours that align with your culture and addressing those that don’t. According to Sarah McCann-Bartlett, CEO of the Australian HR Institute, building a strong culture starts with clarity and psychological safety. That means making sure your team knows what’s expected of them—and that they feel safe to speak up.

“Good organisational culture includes clarity and consistency about the way people are expected to behave, and then holding people accountable,” she says.

That also means creating the space for your team to feel comfortable to contribute ideas, challenge the status quo, and raise issues without fear.

Step 5: Keep evolving

Building a positive culture isn’t an ongoing process that requires attention and care. As your business grows and changes, so too should your culture.

“Culture is dynamic. It evolves over time as people come and go and as the organisation grows and changes. Leaders need to pay ongoing attention to what’s happening inside their organisation to ensure that the culture they want is the one that’s being created,” says Gibbings.  So, keep the lines of communication open, be willing to adapt, and always look for ways to improve.

A positive workplace culture is good for business. It leads to higher engagement, better performance, and a stronger bottom line. So, take the time to invest in your culture, and you’ll be rewarded with greater success.

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