Organizational culture is the collection of values, expectations, and practices that guide and inform the actions of all team members. It’s a collection of traits that make your business what it is. A great culture exemplifies the positive traits that lead to better performance, while a dysfunctional company culture highlights qualities that can hinder even the most successful organizations.
It is important to differentiate the organizational culture with the objectives, although both can help define it. Culture is created through consistent and authentic behaviors. We can see company culture in action as a manager responds to a crisis, as a team adapts to new customer demands, or as a manager corrects an employee who makes a mistake.
The importance of organizational culture
Organizational culture affects every aspect of business, from punctuality and tone to contract terms and employee benefits. When your workplace culture aligns with your employees, it helps them feel more comfortable, supported, and valued. Companies that put culture first can also weather tough times and changes in the business environment and come out stronger.
Culture is a key advantage in attracting talent and outperforming the competition. 77% percent of workers consider a company’s culture before applying, and nearly half of employees leave their current job for a lower-paying opportunity at an organization with a better culture.
Every organization’s culture is different, and it’s important to retain what makes your business unique. However, the cultures of high-performing organizations consistently reflect certain qualities that you should seek to cultivate:
Alignment occurs when the goals of the company and the motivations of its employees go in the same direction.
Thank you can take many forms: a public greeting, a thank you note, or a promotion.
Trust is vital to an organization. With a culture of trust, team members can express themselves and trust each other to support and support each other.
