What is Workplace Culture?
Culture in the workplace is the customs, behaviors, and beliefs common to a group of people within a work environment. This can be the case for a specific team, department, and even a company as a whole. The culture is created through the behaviors of everyone involved, from the top down, the President to the front-line employees.
A fundamental element of healthy company culture is employee alignment with the organization’s vision and values. Aligned goals set a tone of shared values that determine group standards of conduct that establish behavioral norms. A staff, either partially or entirely, who has no personal interest or involvement in the overall objective(s) of their company is a strong indication of a poor company culture.
What Are Some Common Traits of a Positive Workplace Culture?
A positive work culture does not happen by accident. It requires thoughtfulness and intentional cultivation. A positive work culture is one that has policies in place to encourage support, trust, and respect for all involved, offers support at all levels of the organization, and emphasizes the overall well-being of the employees.
Why You Should Worry about Your Work Culture?
US companies tend to place a high priority on achievements and results that positively affect the bottom line. The US culture is competitive, individualistic, and focused on the short term. Sadly, overtime is expected and time off is not a priority for most US companies.
“Billions of wasted dollars. Millions of miserable people. It’s not a war zone—it’s the state of the American workplace,” said SHRM president and CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP.
One of the most glaring reasons to be concerned with your workplace culture is to keep your employees happy so they don’t leave. A survey from SHRM showed that the average cost-per-hire is over $4,000 to replace a frontline employee. That does not include the cost to the company of the knowledge and expertise that leaves with exiting employees. If your company has a high employee turnover rate, you are likely to spend thousands of additional dollars per year trying to keep your positions filled.
Besides the fiscal impact that a positive work culture can have on your business, there are other benefits such as improved employee health, increased loyalty, and morale, reduced negative behaviors, and overall better performance outcomes.
What Actions on the Part of Company Leaders Impact Work Culture?
One opinion discussed in an article published July 6, 2021, is that the key to a company’s work culture is employee empowerment. “Empowerment can mean different things to different people in different organizations. It’s not a one-stop shop but, generally speaking, people who are truly empowered feel supported by their managers and secure when making decisions.” (Sarah Philips)
It is important for managers to conduct interactive discussions with their employees about parameters, expectations, and ultimately outcomes and then allow them to “get to it.”
Leading by example rather than through fear will help to build trust between managers and their employees. By removing the fear of failure and cultivating an open, honest, feedback environment, employees will gain more confidence and invest more of themselves into honing their strengths and addressing their weaknesses.
According to a culture survey conducted by SHRM in 2022, some of the best ways to promote a positive workplace culture are:
- Permit Autonomy
- Foster an atmosphere that respects diversity
- Discipline the disruptors
- Encourage employees to communicate freely
- Promote talent internally
- Offer relevant perks/benefits
Conclusion
The culture of your workplace directly affects company profitability and overall success. Although the actions listed above are the ideal blend to foster a good workplace culture, you also need to find the right approach for your team when shifting culture. Make slight changes initially in each area and then be intentional in letting it increase organically.
