Culture is key

Culture is in everything we do. It is part of our core as an individual and as a group of people. Culture connects us. 

 

A recent Gallup study has shown that company culture is an important factor for 46% of job seekers. Married candidates value culture more than their single colleagues. 

94% of entrepreneurs and 88% of job seekers say that a healthy culture at work is vital for success. 86% of job seekers avoid companies with a bad reputation. 

 

Large corporations, small / medium businesses and startups have one core thing in common, they want to crack the culture code. Companies want to ensure that their teams are on the top of their game, that they are engaged and ready to tackle the day, whatever comes their way. Large corporations often to look to startups for inspiration on how they can build a culture that motivates people from their core. 

 

But where do you start as a business? What is company culture really, and why is it so important? 

 

Company culture, also often known as organisational culture, is a set of shared values, norms, rituals and beliefs which influence how people behave, make decisions, act, and communicate. In other words, it's how they work, collaborate and interact with your suppliers and customers and it is how they feel about themselves and their role in your company. In essence, culture is simply 'How We Do Things and How We Treat People Around Here'.  When people think of company culture they often think of free food, football tables, and bean bags. But to be very clear: those are just the working environment, which support and reflects your culture, but that's it.  Culture is often invisible, but people feel it and respond to it either positively or negatively. 

 

Company culture is important, it can make all the difference to people coming and going in your company.  Believe it or not, your company's culture even has the power to shape your people's personal view of the world. Everyone tends to identify with their job, which gives them a certain social status in society, think of a lawyers or doctors reputation. And then, not to be underestimated, there is the pride and feeling of belonging to a group of people that have pride in working in your company. 

Your culture is helpful in so many ways, but particularly it will help you with the day-to-day business, in other words how you align and unite your teams towards one common goal and purpose.  Culture enables retention and loyalty. Internally culture touches, or better, wraps around everything. If you install a culture of ownership and accountability, it will enable your team to focus on results and delivery. 

 

The culture of your company is the baseline and needs to be fully embedded into your leadership teams, team performance, your diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy as well as your employee engagement and retention programs. If you spend time to establish your company culture early, and redefine it along the way, it will positively impact your employees and your company’s performance. By investing in these areas, companies can (regardless of their size) create a culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters innovation and collaboration, and drives business success.