Why company culture matters, and how you can contribute

Whenever humans form groups, they create culture. They agree, either explicitly or implicitly, to follow certain rules and expectations. Your family has its own culture. Your community and your school do, too. At its core, culture comes down to what people do and how they do it. Places of work are no different.

Whether an organization realizes it or not, they have a culture. It shows up in a lot of ways:

• Methods of communication within the company and externally
• Company policies and expectations of employees
• How new employees are onboarded
• The way conflicts are resolved
• How interviews are conducted
• How people give and receive feedback on performance
• The vision and mission of the company
• Leadership styles and interactions
• Willingness to try out new ideas

Some companies are good at creating a positive culture; some aren’t. And this matters a lot.

You know the saying, “Have your feelings, or your feelings will have you?” It means that we can either acknowledge our feelings and how they’re affecting us, or we can deal with the havoc they create because we ignored them.

It’s the same with company culture. Culture exists whether it’s acknowledged or not. If a company does nothing to nurture a positive culture, they run the risk of a negative one developing on its own.

Companies with a positive culture are generally more enjoyable places to work—go figure! Positive company cultures tend to be collaborative, have good communication, and promote a high level of trust.

It’s no surprise that job seekers tend to avoid companies with bad reviews on company culture.

A positive company culture benefits the company’s bottom line and the people who work there. Positive company culture is associated with:

• Higher worker satisfaction
• Less employee turnover
• Happier, more engaged employees
• Increased productivity
• Higher revenues

Job seekers are wise to look for companies with a positive company culture. But how do you know before you’re hired what a company’s culture will be like?

These are some sources that can help:

• The company website, especially its “about” page and their vision and mission statements
• The social media presence of the leadership team
• Customer reviews
• Sites like Glassdoor and Indeed
• Word-of-mouth and your own network

Also, trust your gut, based on your interactions with the company. When you interview, do you feel like your time is valued, or are you made to feel you should be grateful to be there? If you interview in person, how does it feel when you walk into the building? How do people interact with one another? You can tell a lot by observing the environment yourself.

Employers who have cultivated a positive company culture look for employees to add to it. Remember we said that culture exists whether it’s acknowledged or not? You have an impact on that culture whether you realize it or not. Why not be intentional about your contribution to it?

Make a pact with yourself that you will add positively to your company’s culture. Commit to some or all of these positive behaviors:

• Act with integrity
• Show genuine interest in your coworkers
• Use active listening skills—say, “I heard you say….” or “Do I have this right?”
• When you disagree with an idea, do so respectfully
• Show appreciation
• Give credit where it’s due—especially when someone’s contributions are overlooked by others

You can’t overcome a toxic workplace with a sunny attitude. But if the culture is already positive, your employer will notice if you’re consistently respectful, honest, and kind.

Companies often have various initiatives in play at the same time. Find pathways within the company that line up with the things you care about. Some examples are joining a committee on community partnerships, a study group on employee wellness, or professional learning sub-committees.

When you line up your professional growth with the company’s larger goals, you’ll naturally become a good cultural fit within the company.

You know those television shows, like The Office or 30 Rock, that are set in the workplace? And everyone in the show—even the annoying characters—are over-involved in one another’s lives? They look like their coworkers are the only important people in their lives. Don’t you wonder why they don’t have personal lives outside of work? Or why they aren’t with family or other friends on holidays?

Sure, it works for the sake of the plot, but in real life that looks pretty unbalanced. The point is, don’t go overboard trying to fit into the culture. You want to give your best effort and create positive connections at work, but you need to set healthy boundaries, too.

Sure, go out after work occasionally or join up for a weekend activity. The effort will help you form friendships, which are nice to have with people you work with for 40 hours a week. Don’t be pressured into giving up all your free time for work-related social events, though. Unlike Pam and Jim, or Liz and Jack, you should maintain your other important relationships.

When it comes to company culture, you want to land with an employer that makes an effort to create a good one. Once you’re there, do what you can to support that effort. Use your powers for good—your bosses will take note.