Golden rules for a flourishing work culture.

Organisations who leave their culture up to chance may be missing a trick when it comes to creating and engaged workforce and a thriving business. What makes it good? What makes it bad? These are pertinent questions for a business keen to succeed when 21% of potential employees take a company’s culture into account when deciding whether to accept a position with it and 18% of employees say that a beneficial culture increases engagement and loyalty.

So, creating a positive and thriving culture is clearly important, and if you follow these rules you will be well on the way to doing just that.

Have a mission statement
A mission statement spotlights what a company aims to achieve. Creating and maintaining a strong culture has to come from the top down giving everyone a shared direction.

Stick with it
If you’re going to create goals, stick with them through thick and thin. Your mission statement reminds everyone what they are doing and why they are doing it.

Live your values
Lead from the top down. If the managers don’t make decisions based on the company vision and values, and embrace them without cynicism, why should the employees?

Be transparent
Keep your employees involved and informed. They are your allies in the success of the business and they should know what’s going on.

Listen to feedback
Empower employees to offer suggestions to improve their environment. They will feel respected and you will reap the benefits of a productive and loyal workforce.

Adapt and Acknowledge
As you listen to feedback, be open to change. Involve employees in finding solutions to problems, fostering a genuine ‘all in it together’ mentality. Recognise and acknowledge your employees – they will feel appreciated and valued which helps create a motivated and productive team.

Have some fun
Many employees expect to have fun in the work environment. So, let them. However small your gesture, showing your employees that work can be an enjoyable place to be will pay dividends.

Be spontaneous
An unexpected spontaneous celebration goes a long way towards keeping up morale. Closing a sale or completing a project may be part of their job, but a spontaneous celebration (on you) adds a lot of goodwill.

Hire wisely
When you interview, have your company culture in mind, and question accordingly. You want new employees to fit in and be happy – and that’s far more likely if they embody your company culture already.

Create a flexible workplace
Give your employees the option to pick workstations that suit them or whatever task they’re tackling – that may mean allowing them to choose between busy open-plan or quiet areas.

Offer opportunities
Nurture professional growth, offer opportunities for employees to expand their skill sets and experience variety you are more likely to retain them in the long term.

Measure your culture, no-one else’s
Ask yourself: are employees happy/engaged/productive? If you have honest answers you can make honest improvements. And remember to keep it personal to your company – it’s unique – what works for others may not work for you, and you’re none the worse for it.

If you keep these rules in mind when you’re trying to fulfil both your organisation’s and your employees’ potential, you’ll be well on the way to a happy, engaged and productive workforce.

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This was written as part of a content marketing strategy for Saving Grace, a client based in Cheshire. MCM2 provide full-service digital marketing, including, email marketing, pay per click, content, seo, design, web building and strategy.

MCM2 – no nonsense digital marketing agency in Cheshire.

Carmen Dias

I recently booked onto the: 'Marketing Tactics - what to do, when to do it, and why you should' - facilitated by Martin and all I can say is that I've never enjoyed a full day training so much! It was a relaxed, informative of course, but most of all, engaging.

He planned the breaks out perfectly, keeping us refreshed! He used fun and creative ways to help us understand the multiple layers of what marketing is really all about. I usually dread training in fear of awkward breakout rooms, and being put on the spot but luckily Martin had found a natural way to make us feel comfortable to engage without all the awkwardness and anxiety!

Not once did I feel uncomfortable like I do in most training sessions. I'd highly recommend this course and any other with mcm2.

The years of experience, knowledge and enriching content along with all the fun made this easily one of the best courses I'd been on! 😀

Tim Watkins

Martin tutored the marketing module for the Director Development programme at University of Salford.

The module was a highlight of the programme, delivered with great insight, experience, knowledge, humour, and inspiration.

A genuine master of his trade.

Jessica Atkinson

I attended the "Marketing Tactics" training event and Martin shared some quality tips and advice. I would definitely recommend his expertise to any size business - he knows it all and has a great sense of humour!

We hope to work with him again in the future. Thanks Martin!

Suzanne Miller

I have attended several of Martins courses and each has always provided me with new fresh ideas and strategies to implement into my business.

He delivers the information in a way that is engaging and easy to process, and always makes time to answer any questions raised. His expertise and level of knowledge in all areas of marketing means he can provide the correct level of information to the course delegates irrespective of their experience.


Great courses, always a benefit, and always come away feeling inspired and positive about future marketing projects.

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Martin has provided RB Plant with an excellent value adding service in the time he has been working with us.

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Katrina May Celebrant

After meeting Martin through one of his outstanding workshops I decided I required a superior web site, business cards and flyers.
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We attended the Digital marketing workshops run by Martin on behalf of Reaseheath College and it was just brilliant.

Martin is extremely knowledgable, understands the growing pains of small businesses, their drive to market their products/services to a wider audience, but their restriction of time and budget. He guided us through our options, made us aware of the pitfalls and supported us to develop a plan of action. He has provided invaluable insight and food for thought.

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Best decision I made was moving my website management seo over to MCM2 . Thanks

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After many bad experiences with marketing companies either just not understanding our brand or overcharging us and providing nothing we were recommended Martin at mcm2 and what a delight, Martin listens and is fair.

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I attended a digital marketing workshop led by Martin and really benefitted from the course. Martin's presentation gave me a clearer understanding of digital marketing, and I found it useful that it was tailored to our small business.

Martin was very informative and shared a lot of practical tips which I hope to implement going forward. Thanks Martin!

David Bretnall

I've just finished a 2 part online Social Media Marketing course hosted by Martin from his company MCM2. The course was really interesting and well presented and gives a really good insight into what I originally thought be quite a daunting and scary phenomenon.

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Brew and Tucker

I met Martin through a recommendation from a friend of mine and I’m really glad I did. From our first catch up Martin was super easy to talk to and also cut the jargon.

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Lizzie Green

Attending one of Martin's courses is always a pleasure, not only is it informative, it is entertaining.

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Attended two sessions of a social media marketing course with Martin which was delivered virtually.

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Excellent use of my time!!

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I’ve used Martin numerous times now to help me set up websites. He is superb and always gets the job done in no time at a great price as well.

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Martin ran a very comprehensive marketing workshop. I would definitely recommend him for training and marketing support.