Corporate culture is the intangible ecosystem that is becoming more and more important in the modern day workplace. It cannot be measured but its strength is vital for a happy, productive and loyal workforce.
When looking for a new job you might primarily consider the values of an organisation, and the compensation that is paid to employees, however another hugely important factor is the work culture, which plays a key role is retaining and binding employees to an organisation.
A good working culture is the general vibe of a company, something that employees feel. It can be created or moulded through actions, and it determines how employees are treated, how relationships are established, the products and services created, and how the job gets done.
The modern workplace is evolving, and culture is one standout point of discussion for job seekers. We are living in a start up culture, where many businesses are competing for the ‘coolest’ office space, the biggest and best staff perks, and often boasting a ‘Google’ style office perfect for budding entrepreneurs and those who crave a sense a job with a good work/life balance and flexibility.
Studies have indicated measurable increases in staff turnover for companies with poor or non-existent culture, so those companies who can’t keep up with the pace with a strong culture are likely to fall behind – making work culture a very popular topic.
Work culture is vital for retention, as it means a lower staff turnover, fewer new hires to constantly start at the beginning with, and better chemistry amongst teams.
Although employees won’t necessarily think about their working culture, happy employees will become brand ambassadors and often this means talking positively about and even recommending the company to friends and family.
Since your job is important to you, and the workplace is where you spend more than one third of your life, what can companies do to create a better working culture?
* Make each employee feel valued – meaning their presence is noticed, their work is appreciated and their ideas are listened to. All employees crave a legitimate sense of purpose to feel connected to the organisation.
* Set the standard – if a business prioritises setting and meeting goals, the individual workers of the company will be more inclined to set and meet goals of their own, too.
* Encourage employees to take up new challenges and opportunities – letting know employees know that they have your emotional and perhaps financial support to undertake training or go to seminars, or anything that will improve the skills they need for their jobs.
* Prompt employees to watch each others’ backs – employees need to feel like part of a team to really thrive. Employers and employees need to work together to develop a sense of purpose that motivates everybody.
* Treat employees fairly – there should be no biases towards certain people or ideas, and a big push on diversity and inclusion. A company with a good culture allows people to be themselves and share their unique points of view.
A good culture will bring out the best in employees, and negatively will simply kill creative and the will to perform. No matter how talented you are, you will certainly work to the best of your abilities and be most creative when you are in a positive and encouraging environment.
