Almost all companies have a mission statement, a short, snappy phrase that distills what they are about and encapsulates their corporate culture. Unfortunately, in reality, there are many companies with a well-defined corporate mission, but with an inconsistent organizational culture that fails to connect to core values or again, a corporate culture that yes achieves its performance goals, but leaves employees demoralized and unmotivated 👎
The pandemic and subsequent increase in remote work has only underscored how critical it is to have a strong corporate culture to recruit and retain valuable employees. And in what remains a highly competitive job market, people choose to work in companies that have strong, positive and robust organizational cultures.
Strong organizations provide a purpose-driven culture that gives employees a clear sense of their work and how they contribute to the company's success 📌
Moreover, if everyone is aligned on what the vision is and how to achieve it, corporate culture can be a powerful lever to achieve organizational success.
What is corporate culture?
Although a company's mission and values are the starting point, it is how those values are expressed-every day and at all levels-that makes up an organization's culture.
Corporate culture is the sum total of all the thousands of interactions, norms and behaviors in a company and is also the vehicle through which employees can gain meaningful work experience.
Every individual has a purpose, a reason why he or she "gets out of bed every day," and a value that gives meaning to his or her life. Every company has its own purpose, and a healthy corporate culture is built when employees can see a clear connection between their personal purpose and how they spend their time at work. In companies with strong cultures, leadership ensures that employees are clear about where and how their efforts support the company's goals and mission.
Knowing that one's work is important to the world and that you have the opportunity to leave a mark on the universe is very important. The articulation of a company's purpose and how it connects to the purpose of employees is one of the most critical aspects of a leader's role.
With aligned people, success and opportunity-that is, growth-is the final piece of the cultural puzzle.
Signs of a healthy organizational culture
Although there is no one right and unambiguous way to define a corporate culture as "healthy," some distinctive traits are practically always present.
1.Investing in professional growth 🧗
Companieswith thriving corporate cultures actively promote employee growth, with robust learning programs and skill enhancement initiatives that prepare employees for future success.
In addition, a commitment to frequent, clear, kind and usable feedback-and the willingness on the part of leadership to give and receive feedback-ensures that team members are engaged in their work.
Strong cultures promote a growth mindset that sees challenges and failure as a useful learning opportunity to be a springboard for developing one's skills 📌
2. Valuing work-life balance 🧘
Equallyimportant is how a company treats time away from work. Whether it is paid leave, sick days, or simply work start and end times, corporate behavior says a lot about organizational values. The same goes for the benefits in which a company invests (or does not invest) for its employees.
Benefits are one of the highest expressions of corporate culture.
3.Commitment to diversity 💞
Strong organizational cultures prioritize diversity and support it in tangible ways with solid initiatives. Proactively incentivize diversity of thought and perspective in daily work to unlock the full potential of the company and employees.
In other words, a healthy culture is one in which people are allowed to engage in work with their whole selves every day, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, religious expression and the like.
Premonitory signs of a toxic culture
On the other hand, there are warning signs or alarm bells that indicate that a company's culture is not the healthiest or is going in the wrong direction 🚨
One way to understand this is to take a look at which employees the company rewards and which it does not. When organizations focus recognition and promotions exclusively on top performers or the most visible leaders, even if they are recognized as disruptive employees or selfish colleagues who alienate colleagues and co-workers in the process of achieving their goals, it sends a clear and negative message.
And while some companies require extended hours or near-constant availability, the way companies manage to meet stated expectations about workload and time off is an unmistakable sign of their real priorities.
A toxic culture can often be seen as a disconnect between employees and leadership, between professed values and real-life actions, or between what the company owes employees and what it offers. When employees enter the office unconvinced, unmotivated, and with a negative outlook, it is often a sign of a deeper problem.
How to build and evolve a strong culture
Here are three key steps to build a strong culture and continue to evolve it over time.
1.Listening to employees 👂Givingemployees a voice at all levels of decision-making, as well as listening to and acting on their feedback, is not only a show of respect, it is an essential way to build community in the workplace.
In corporate cultures where transparency is highly valued, strategic planning will include everyone in one way or another 📌
Companies that wish to incorporate more employee feedback into planning and decision making have options. Although in smaller companies a commitment to open communication may mean that literally every employee has a seat at the table (or at least the right to comment) during planning, this is not the only way. Larger companies, or those seeking a starting point, can use tools such as OKRs to manage their teams while leaving them responsible for setting their own goals.
2. Hiring people in line with company values 👨👨👩👧👦
Bringingcompany priorities into the hiring process is essential for companies looking to replace or continue to grow their workforce and culture.
Highlight its corporate culture to attract those with whom it resonates.
Recruiting potential new hires who share core values can make teamwork smoother, mentoring easier, and the growth of the company as a whole much more possible. Conversely, failing to question candidates about their preferences in terms of company culture can have unintended negative consequences.
When you dilute your culture by hiring people whose values do not match those of your company, you may see short-term productivity and cash gains, but you will inevitably run into long-term problems 📌
3. Openness to change 🤸
Asparadoxical as it may seem, companies with a strong organizational culture are not afraid to let that hard-won culture change and develop. The transition of many workplaces to a hybrid or even completely remote model has been a huge stressor when it comes to building culture, but companies that were able to identify what was essential to their culture-and find ways to promote it regardless of where their localized employees are located-were able to move forward with a renewed sense of purpose.
This means that companies must pay attention and respond by evolving organizational practices along with changing times. If they do not, they risk a number of negative consequences, such as declining morale, commitment, employee retention etc.
Why organizational culture is important
An organization can only be successful in the long run if its workplace culture is healthy. When the work environment is positive, the organizational culture and management team are guided by well-communicated shared values, employees are set up for success.
And while building a strong organizational culture has always been a priority for forward-looking companies, in today's climate of constant change and uncertainty, it is more important than ever for all employers.
This deeper involvement of employees, can be seen in their motivation, as well as in retention and recruitment.
Organizational culture can be a company's best and most powerful weapon, as it leads to employees who are typically happier and more resilient to challenges and have opportunities for growth and a sense of belonging.
Do you wish to grow your corporate culture? Try OKRs and revolutionize the way you define and manage your organization's goals! 🚀
