Fact: you already have a work culture, whether you prioritize it or not.
Yep, even if you've never thought about it, your business already has a work culture. It's the vibe your employees feel when they show up to work, how they interact, and what they believe is expected of them. Whether it's intentional or accidental, your company culture exists, and it's shaping your business every day.
What is work culture, really?
Work culture is the personality of your company. It's a mix of your values, traditions, behaviors, and how your team works together. It's "the way we do things here."
Note that your culture is not the way you say you do things here, it's the way you actually do things here.
Comfy clothes culture, grab-a-beer-after-work culture, competitive culture, lots-of-meetings culture, prioritize-the-bottom-line culture, wing-it culture, we'll-try-anything-once culture, run-it-by-the-boss-first culture, stay-in-your-lane culture, ask-for-help culture, meet-the-deadline culture, it-is-what-it-is culture, nobody-follows-the-rules culture, good-enough-isn't-good-enough culture, don't-disagree-with-the-boss culture, nobody-gets-fired culture, never-accept-no-for-an-answer culture. Work cultures are so varied, interesting, and impactful. And they're changing all the time.
Why it's important for small business owners
A positive work culture can help you attract and retain great employees, boost productivity, and build a strong brand. Ignore your culture and you might find yourself dealing with high turnover, low morale, and compliance or reputation problems. Unhappy, poorly trained employees who don't understand what's expected are much more likely to cause and file lawsuits.
How to improve work culture without spending a fortune
- Acknowledge your culture. Audit your rewards and punishments, written policies, training, communication, treatment, problem-solving, why people stay or leave, and conflict resolution.
- Actively pursue your ideal culture.
- Show appreciation.
- Communicate clearly.
- Set expectations, and follow them.
- Encourage development.
- Celebrate wins.
- Prioritize diversity.
Balancing culture, compliance, and brand
Culture, compliance, and brand work hand-in-hand. You can't have a fun, relaxed culture if you're ignoring compliance, it'll backfire eventually. Likewise, a strong employer brand won't mean much if your internal culture doesn't match what you're promoting.