People can tell a lot from the culture of an organization. By observing the shared values, attitudes, and beliefs that guide your organization, people, including prospective employees and/or clients, will decide whether they want to associate with you or not. When building the vision for your organization, as you put your intellectual, financial or marketing plan together or evaluate your staffing needs, you must decide the type of work culture you want, and work towards intentionally creating it. The culture of an organization is just as critical for success as any other aspect of the organization. But achieving a positive and exciting culture requires a genuine effort to instill in your team members the value system and attitude that will help them grow and perform at their best.
What Makes Up a Healthy Work Culture
Outlining your core values
Most organizations and institutions have developed core values such as "Excellence," "Accountability," and "Respect," to name a few. But what is the purpose of doing this? Is this just protocol, or just for having words to decorate annual reports?
The core values are cultural cornerstones that guide every decision, action and even achievement. An organization’s core values are critical and must be given careful attention by all team members.
Promote Diversity and Inclusion
Creating a company culture that is safe and comfortable for individuals of all ethnicities, sexual orientations, age groups, and religions is an essential responsibility for all leaders. No matter your industry, you should create a work setting where all team members can feel like they belong and have equal opportunities to lead and grow. Plus, diversity and inclusion should not be a one-off thing, it should be ingrained in culture and influence all future activities of the organization.
Don't rely only on HR to create the ideal culture
Too often, organizations leave it all up to their Human Resource Manager/Director to do all the work concerning workplace culture. HR Managers/Directors have the requisite experience and training to create an inclusive and culturally responsible environment, but culture of the organization is a team effort that leadership and other team members must come together to develop and maintain.
The Short-Term Effects of Good Culture
Having a good workplace culture will affect how your company and team operate. For example, an organization that stresses inclusivity, compassionate leadership, and respect for all members can expect their team members to appreciate the organization and their roles better. They will develop a sense of trust towards the organization and be more willing to communicate openly, work at their highest potential, and maintain its values.
How Culture Affects the Organization in the Long Term
When you create the right culture, people will be attracted to your organization, and you will be able to attract and retain top talent and create a happier and more productive work environment.
Creating the ideal culture is essential for leaders who want to achieve true success for their organization.