Good corporate culture isn’t all about parties, table football in the office and free coffee. This article will shed some light on what it actually takes.
Like any kind of culture, corporate culture is defined as ‘the collective values, social norms and attitudes that apply within’. It forms the foundation for every action and every behaviour within an organisation, influencing how decisions are made, how people interact and ultimately who fits into the organisation (and who doesn’t).
It shapes the very character of the company, showing what it stands for and what it holds to be important. It aims to create a certain image, both among colleagues within the company and outside, in dealings with customers, job applicants and the wider public. So it’s also a key factor when it comes to employer branding.
Influences
Just as corporate culture has an influence on everything that happens inside a company, everything that happens in a company also has an influence on the corporate culture. They are factors that reinforce each other – for better or for worse.
The most significant influence on the prevailing culture is how the company is managed and the way decisions are made:
- Does management involve employees in decision-making processes or just expect them to follow instructions blindly?
- Do managers treat employees as equals or do they demand more respect than they are willing to give?
- Are all employees valued or are they taken for granted?
If the corporate culture isn’t right, employees won’t stick around for very long. As a manager, you are ultimately the role model, and your employees will follow your lead.
And the example you set shapes the behaviours and interaction in your workplace:
- Does everyone go straight to their desk in silence when they get to work or do they greet each other?
- Do they pull together and go for gold together or are they all lone wolves?
- Do they treat each other formally or informally?
- Are they friends as well as colleagues?
- How important are hierarchies in everyday communication?
As well as the way they interact with each other, environmental factors also play a vital role:
- What is the work-life balance like and is family life given at least as much importance as work?
- Are the individual workspaces divided from each other or are the doors (including managers’) always open to everyone?
- Are there status symbols?
- Is the dress code formal or casual?
On top of all these influencing factors within the organisation, there are also factors outside the company that heavily influence the corporate culture. First and foremost are the differences between generations and their respective values and priorities. Millennials and Generation Z, for example, place far less importance on their professional lives than previous generations. More than half of them would look for a new job if their expectations were not met.
Influencing culture positively
Naturally this all has an impact on culture. But how can you use this knowledge to influence the culture in your company for the better?
Start with your managers. Well-managed employees generally have a more positive view of their corporate culture. Everyone needs strong leadership to achieve their common goals. It provides motivation, helps employees identify with the culture and conveys a sense of belonging.
If you want to move your corporate culture in a particular direction, the first thing you have to ask yourself is: what should the goal of our corporate culture be? Then look at the culture as it is now and decide what you need to achieve your goal and what is standing in your way. If you want your people to have casual, friendly relations with each other, but you insist on a formal dress code, these are factors you can adjust.
Finally, make all the adjustments you need to reach your goal. But it’s important not to narrow down your culture too much. Instead, focus on achieving the largest possible overlap between everyone. It only has to fit in with the overall strategy of the company and should not in any way hold you back.
To sum up
If you’re looking to improve your corporate culture, this article will help you take the first steps towards getting there. But remember that you can’t change an established corporate culture overnight. It takes perseverance and patience.