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So, what defines company culture? If you aren’t sure what this is, it’s essentially the collective and shared values of a business that shape how it operates internally and externally. This can be overwhelmingly positive or extremely toxic, and typically begins with a leadership example.
People don’t usually leave companies. They leave managers! However, an organisation can become infected with a bad culture. From values to external influence, here are some examples.
Company-Wide Behaviour and Practices
A public-facing PR campaign is a common practice for customer engagement. However, there are deeper workplace philosophies that work towards shaping the reputation of a business. A strong company identity is built upon a foundation of trust and loyalty, including from employees. Far treatment and responsible behaviour go a long way to improving ethics in business from the immediate workspace to the wider industry, aligning with moral responsibility and transparency.
Shared Values and Beliefs
For most major companies and many smaller ones, there is a set of fundamental principles by which decisions are made. These are typically laid out in a company mission statement that defines long-term goals. Usually, decisions made at every level refer to the goals of the statement and can be customer-facing. However, there are also internal policies that drive how workers engage with the business, clients and, of course, each other throughout the business.
Workplace Defines Company Culture
Sometimes, the environment is overlooked, but the workplace as a whole can have a substantial impact on how employees engage. A survey by YouGov found that 74% of workers are satisfied with their jobs, and that’s great. However, there are still some common workplace struggles that can detract from company culture and contribute to an unpleasant workspace. These include policies that guide employees, social interactions and even the office layout.
External Influence in the Industry
Every organisation belongs to a specific industry, and the industry itself can contribute to how policies and, indeed, culture are shaped. Trends and competition are perfect examples, especially in today’s climate. However, company culture can also be defined based on the target audience and what they expect you to deliver. Then, there are wider external influences, such as adhering to national culture and identity, and changes in modern technology, such as AI.
Employee Inclusion and Diversity
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are welcome in the workplace today. Nobody wants a workplace to be unfair to anyone, yet there has been a shift in hiring practices. Including a more diverse employee pool is a powerful method of gaining new insights. However, it shouldn’t be at the cost of talent that can shape the workplace for the better. Recently, toxic DEI initiatives have been hiring based on characteristics instead of the best person for the job.
Summary
Public-facing and internal behaviour throughout a business is one of the aspects that define company culture. Of course, the workplace as a whole, including office layout, has an impact on the wider culture. DEI initiatives are a credit in a workplace, but care must be taken not to misuse the ethos of diversity in a way that works to actually exclude a segment of workers.
