Much is written today about the types of cultures companies are fostering within their halls, but is all the hubbub about everyday culture worth the countless gallons of ink that’s been spilled covering it thus far? As a matter of fact, yes; a company’s culture is an essential part of its long-term success, no matter where it’s based or what kind of economic challenge it aims to tackle, and companies that shun their workplace culture initiatives will soon find themselves regretful of their decisions.
Every business needs a company culture
Let’s establish one thing right out of the gate; company cultures aren’t exclusive to Fortune 500 companies or mammoth international corporations with massive resources. Businesses of all shapes, sizers, and stripes rely on their company culture to keep their employees happy, well-suited to meet their goals, and feeling as if they’re a part of a broader family. Thus, those companies that shun workplace culture initiatives entirely will soon find themselves with an unmotivated, alienated workforce that struggles to achieve even the most mundane business goals.
It’s been well-established by now that a company’s culture has a direct influence on the amount of profits that company generates, but HR managers and business executives the world over are still ignoring company culture efforts with blatant disdain. What’s the root cause of this confusing conundrum, and what can HR practitioners and workers aspiring for a better office environment do to sway hearts and minds when it comes to establishing a strong, inclusive company culture?
Besides pointing out the obvious, like the fact that healthy workplace cultures motivate employees to work longer and harder, HR managers and pro-company culture enthusiast should stress that building an inclusive company culture is essential when it comes to taking your unrelated team members and turning them into something more. If you want to truly build a sense of community within the halls of your workplace, your employees need to know you’re invested in their health, and that’s where building a positive company culture comes in. Company cultures that emphasize the health of workers routinely generate tremendous benefits; initiatives like offering paid family leave, for instance, are reflective of a company culture that appreciates parenthood, rather than despising it, and greatly inspire and empower employees.
To put it simply, you can’t expect your cherished human capital to labor like mechanical automatons all day; if your employees feel as if they’re merely cogs in a broader machine, they won’t feel compelled to give their work their undivided attention. Thus, if you’re an HR manager struggling to come up with company culture initiatives that you can rely upon, you should check out the advice of successful CEOs who can recommend easily-attainable steps you can follow to cement a more positive company culture in your business’ halls.
A lack of culture breeds workplace decay
Why should you be investing your time, money, and energy into instituting a company culture? Besides the benefits that we’ve covered above, it’s important that business owners and HR managers understand the cost of refusing to instill a company culture, too; a lack of culture inevitably breeds workplace decay, as it forces your workers to compete rather than cooperate, and will doubtlessly make it easier for your employees who are feeling remiss to up and quit your company.
If you’re finding this hard to believe, all you need to do is read up on the ways a poor company culture negatively affects employees. If a lackluster company culture that doesn’t do enough for workers results in lower productivity and seriously dampens company morale, just imagine the dismal consequences incurred on those companies who shun company culture efforts outright.
Luckily, the benefits of company cultures are better understood and more widely appreciated today than ever before in history, and it’s easier for HR managers to create a stellar company culture that can boost the productivity of employees while making them feel welcome. A focus on a digital company culture that emphasizes the rights of workers is a good place to start; ensuring your employees you’re not intruding on their data or privacy while at work is a great example of how a company can alleviate modern fears of surveillance while building a closer connection with its employees. You shouldn’t stop at the digital realm, however; an effective company culture reaches from the bottom of a business all the way to the top.
If your bosses aren’t falling in line with company culture, then, reconsider your efforts; for a company culture to succeed, it must be a team effort. Keep united, never forget the importance of worker benefits in a successful company culture, and lobby hard for the funding you’ll need to maintain a robust culture, and your business will be soaring towards success faster than you’d believe possible.
