Anyone that’s ever worked in any company can attest that great company culture is one of the things to look out for whether you’re deciding to accept a job offer from a new employer or you’re looking for a job.
Great company culture is essential, not the kind that involves goodies and free snacks in the break room or monthly birthday celebrations but one that is driven by core values, traditions, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs.
Others may term it as the relationship between the company and its employees, but I’d describe it as the ‘Vibe of the workforce.’ Many companies in the past have not ensured a work-life balance among their colleagues; if you look not, most of them reap much from it.
Having worked for a few years, I have learned that a great system of shared values and beliefs contributes significantly to social cohesion, ideation, and growth.
With growth, I mean the development of the company as well as that of the employee. If you work for a company where you are only giving in and not taking in, the company culture is unsuitable for your career growth.
Employees must have a work-life balance that makes them feel like they belong to a community that encourages them to be their best selves. However, it is also good for the CEOs and Founders to feel they have the best team at hand that works for the organization’s greater good. Their actions as the head of the company will directly impact the company.
If the colleagues reflect the company, then the company will be a reflection of the employees. Safe to say they mirror the founders and the company.
A company’s culture is everyone’s responsibility. Employees, as much as the employers, have a part to play. Employees can make or break the organization. It isn’t easy to attain success in a company without the employees, but also employers have a great responsibility to play.
Duties such as ensuring a conducive environment for the workers, creating an atmosphere for growth and advancement, being visible and accessible to their employees, and providing ongoing professional development opportunities for learning and promotions too lie in the hands of the employer.
Without employees, success in a company will be challenging to obtain. Remember, a company is only as successful as its employees, which goes for any organization.
As much as employees carry the mission and influence the company, they require support from their employers. However, this expresses a sense of winning together when times are good—and sticking together when times are tough.
With my very few or many years of work experience, I have seen these things as valuable to companies that want a great company culture.
Valuable things for a Company that Wants Great Company Culture
Excellent company culture has a clear mission and values.
A company cannot give what it doesn’t have, meaning the mission and values of the company have to be woven into the organization’s fabric before others can live them out.
It has the right team.
Expectations are easier to meet when a company has the right team and goals. The right team has its efforts geared toward achieving the best for the organization. With the right team, there is an easy flow of work and teamwork hence more significant and better outcomes.
A great company should be able to foster the growth and advancement of its employees.
Employees work to exercise what they are good at, and they are also there for their ongoing development. May it be through learning or promotions. Finally, this creates a strong community of better versions of people.
It ensures that leaders are accessible.
Leaders offer the direction the company will take. However, it will be difficult for employees to believe in a mission that leaders do not show confidence in. When employees see their employers involved in every process, they are more confident about the goals they are working towards.
It should have inclusivity and involvement.
The company’s success is shown by the level of participation of each employee. Everyone should be involved in the decision-making process as well as idea generation. It, therefore, allows employees to share, discuss and reevaluate goals.
It has no space for office politics.
As this is common, especially in a group setting, great company culture will ensure a positive workspace where each employee is heard and valued and free from gossip and office politics.
Small things like this can significantly impact an employee’s work life and the organization. Companies will start to reap the benefit of excellent work culture and slowly bring back life to that company that every employee desires.
