The Importance of a Good Company Culture (and How to Impact it)

Good company culture is invaluable. The company culture is made up of the organization’s values, ideals, attitudes, and goals. These qualities characterize the organization and give rise to its culture. These intangibles direct how your employees act at work. In many ways, your company culture is your company’s identity, and it impacts every area of business.

The Impact of Company Culture

Because every organization is made up of different individuals, no two company’s will have the same culture. A healthy company culture allows each employee to be represented with their own diverse needs and experiences. When the company culture is healthy, it is a uniting, energizing force for your employees. A good company culture encourages employee engagement. This means that employees are motivated at work and feel connected to their organization. An engaged workforce doesn’t just mean passionate employees, it also directly translates to more profitability. This is one of the intrinsic ways that a healthy company culture contributes to the overall well-being of an organization.

Types of Company Cultures

There are a variety of types of company cultures. Here are a few of them, along with the pros and cons related to each type.

1. Clan or Collaborative Culture.

The keyword with this type of culture is family. In this culture, people tend to be close and consider each other to be friends. There is also likely a lot of shared common interests and similar worldviews. This type of culture tends to foster a lot of long-term employees. One result of this type of culture is the development of workplace traditions. Another result is loyal, long-term customers and long-lasting client partnerships. This type of culture tends to develop at smaller companies. One of the challenges of this type of office culture is that employees may have a hard time thinking outside the box and tend to put individual people’s needs ahead of the businesses.

2. Hierarchy or Control Culture.

This is the more traditional workplace culture, with the hierarchy at the forefront. There is a reason why this kind of culture is also called a control culture. Decisions are made from the top down. This process is done with a lot of care and attention to detail, and to minimize risk. Control cultures tend to be characterized by a great deal of planning and evaluation. Industries where safety or security is a big concern benefit from hierarchy cultures. This type of culture often leads to feelings of security for employees because there is a lot of clarity that comes from following rules and procedures. However, these kinds of companies tend to be less dynamic, less able to adapt and innovate.

3. Adhocracy or Creative Culture.

This is the most creative type of office culture. Innovation is expected and employees tend to constantly experiment with new ideas. This is helpful within industries where large risks can be hugely rewarded. The tech industry is an example of one kind of industry where creativity and risk-taking are considered assets. Growth is at the forefront of adhocracy cultures, along with creating new products and services to take to the business market. Failure is allowed within this kind of company culture because failing is part of creativity, risk-taking, and experimentation. Adaption and the ability to learn from mistakes are more important than following the rules in this kind of culture. While the ability to fail is part of this culture, it also poses the greatest downside to the adhocracy business culture. Failing in a large way can be devastating to a business. Also, these kinds of cultures can be incredibly competitive and potentially quite stressful.

How To Change Your Company Culture

If your company culture isn’t where you would like it to be, don’t despair. There are many ways to impact your company’s culture for the better. Start with communication about your company’s values, or creating them if they aren’t written out. Culture stems from values. Next, when hiring, take your time finding the right person for the job, who will fit in and support the company culture you’re trying to cultivate. After you’ve hired someone, make sure that you’re taking adequate time for their orientation and onboarding. This is your opportunity to instill company values and expectations into the new employee. Empower your employees with proper education and resources, and then engage with your employees consistently. With consistent effort, it is possible to impact and improve your company’s culture.

Biofunctional Health Solutions Can Help Improve Your Company Culture

Looking for the next step in influencing your organization’s culture? Improve your workplace culture with services like ergonomic accessories, massage for employees in office, health fairs, and wellness challenges. Employees that feel cared for and seen by their employers will be more loyal and productive, decreasing the number of employees who leave and increasing the motivation and loyalty of your team overall. Reach out to Biofunctional Health Solutions and they’ll help you get started on your journey to a healthier company culture today.