Every company – whether large or small – has its own culture. It is shaped by the people who work there and the values that the company represents. It determines how they work and interact with each other and shapes the work environment. That has consequences. In a company with a strong, good corporate culture, employees feel valued, committed and motivated. You see yourself as part of the team and the organization and identify with the company. The strength of a corporate culture can significantly influence the success of a company. But what exactly defines a corporate culture?
This is how corporate culture shapes success
A good corporate culture is the backbone of every successful company. It shapes the way we work and how we interact with each other. Some elements of the corporate culture are clearly visible, such as rules, goals or the mission statement. Other elements are not so obvious, such as interpersonal relationships or unconscious rules and feelings and thoughts.
In this case too, everyone is the creator of their own luck. Because if the company does not have clear guidelines, it will be difficult to develop a consistent culture. His values are also crucial to his culture. The goal of a strong and positive corporate culture is to motivate employees and keep them happy. Because only those who enjoy coming to the office and feel comfortable will work happily and give their best. But even when it comes to working from home, corporate culture should not be ignored. This includes a dedicated manager who ensures that work can be carried out from any location and that communication is not neglected. This makes a significant contribution to a positive corporate culture. A strong and positive corporate culture is the basis for the success of every company.
What role does corporate culture play in our working lives?
Corporate culture influences our everyday work in many ways. It determines how we behave towards our colleagues, what values apply in the company and what our relationship with our employer looks like. At the same time, it is also an important factor for our personal development and career.
A positive company culture can help us feel good about our work and stay motivated. But it can also lead to us identifying with the company’s values and feeling committed to the company in the long term.
Negative aspects of a company culture, on the other hand, can make us feel uncomfortable and dissatisfied with our work. They can also cause us to turn away from the company’s values and leave the company at some point. Excessive unpaid overtime, poor, non-transparent communication or the setting of false incentives (e.g. commission) lead to a toxic atmosphere and, last but not least, to an “elbow culture”. The pleasant cooperation as a team, which was certainly intended, remains only a pious wish. In other words: Company culture is a very important factor in our working lives and should therefore not be neglected under any circumstances.
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How do you recognize a corporate culture?
The work culture of an organization is shaped by factors such as the social environment, values and target agreements. These have a significant influence on our daily work. Corporate cultures differ in several aspects. We would like to compare some of them, although the right solution can also be somewhere in between, but always has to fit the company individually.
Behaviors
- Dress code/work clothes agreed or free of rules
- There is cohesion in the team or “elbow culture”
- Private contact outside of work or not
- Dealing with conflicts: processing or ignoring
- Loyalty to the company exists or not
- Dealing with external partners: customer-centric or neglectful
Guide
- Personal responsibility of each individual or external responsibility
- Trust of superiors in employees or their control
- Making decisions together or decisions “from above”
- Regulation of access, releases and authorizations limited or transparent
- Management and employees interact collegially or distantly, hierarchically
- Supportive or demanding leadership
Communication
- Regulations for external communication: serious, friendly, young
- Regulations for internal communication : clearly defined or as desired
- Knowledge exchange and transfer: Transparent or “knowledge monopolies”
- Transparency or concealment of information
- The tone between each other: serious or friendly
- Sufficient or too few communication options
Working environment
- Office furnishings “clean”, with plants, familiar, photos, cheap, expensive
- Food and drinks in the kitchen, cooking together or everyone for themselves
- Workplace: open, ergonomic, bright, outdated
Organization structure
- Flat or rigid hierarchies
- Team structure or departments, digital or analog
- Agile structure or rigid silo structure
- Self-organization or external organization
- Working conditions safe, unsafe, work-life balance
Values and standards
- Fairness, openness, cohesion
- Attitude towards errors/performance/rules
- Willingness to take risks or not
- Creating meaning, e.g. sustainability ( Corporate Social Responsibility )
- Speed, performance, innovation, experimentation
Conclusion
A positive corporate culture is very important for the success of a company. Because it not only influences how well employees work together, but also whether customers remain loyal to the company. With a strong corporate culture that is aligned with both the company’s goals and strategy, the company’s performance can be increased. What works well should be maintained and actively practiced; it not only works for the internal structure, but also radiates outwards to customers and partners.
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