When we think of culture, we typically think of various groups of people around the world within a tight-knit community, people with rich historical traditions, diverse cuisine, colorful clothing, and regional dialects. We don’t typically think of our office.
But, it turns out, culture isn’t just something that grows in communities across the globe – or in the hot chocolate you leave out overnight. It develops anytime a group of two or more people gather together. And it can be an incredible thing or a not-so-incredible thing.
What Does Company Culture Look Like?
I first got a taste of company culture at a previous job, which I’ll call Old Job for the sake of politeness.
Old Job seemed like a good fit for me. I had free reign to write as much as I wanted, could create videos all day, and only had to talk a few people each day. Sounds like heaven, right?
Well, if Old Job was heaven, I really hate to see what hell looks like.
Although the work itself was decently enjoyable, my coworkers were not. There was a highly competitive atmosphere, and with it came the undermining of authority, belittlement of work, degradation of character, and even flat-out lying to make oneself look better.
Not good, Old Job. Not good.
At first, I thought I could handle this environment. I believed I could separate myself from it, work my hardest, and my performance would speak to myself. Ah, how naive I was…
The thing about company culture, as I soon found out, is that it bleeds into everything you do. Every interaction your staff has with one another. Every interaction with clients. Every piece of content you produce.
There is no separating yourself from it. Culture becomes as much a part of your business as grammar is a part of your speech, or peanut butter is a part of your PB&J sandwich.
Which is why having a positive company culture can make all the difference in the world.
How A Strong Company Culture Can Impact Work Performance
Fast-forward six months (or backward nine, depending on your perspective), and I become a part of the ROI Crew. Just like before, I’m doing something I enjoy: writing and exercising my creative energy. I’m working the same hours, more even, and I have to talk to a variety of people every day.
But this time, something’s different. For the first time, I experience a positive company culture.
My coworkers support me, encourage me, and look out for me. Instead of tearing me down and eating at my self-confidence, the company culture inspires me to become even better at everything I do.
In less than a year, I’ve gone from hating my job and never wanting to get out of bed in the morning to actually looking forward to Mondays. I work even harder than before and do more things outside of my comfort zone, but I feel prepared to do so. Even if I fall, I know I’ll have a solid support system to keep me afloat.
Work doesn’t feel like work, and that means I’m much more willing to do more of it.
The best part is, it’s not just me. An incredible company culture can have this powerful of an impact on each of your employees.
According to researchers, a high company culture:
- Drops your company turnover rate from 48.4 percent to 13.9 percent.
- Makes your workers happy, which increases their productivity rate by 12 percent.
- Increases employee-produced revenue by 28 percent.
- Helps you outperform your competition by 20 percent.
- Transforms your employees into company advocates, which means they work harder, work longer, and go the extra mile to bring the company success
But despite all of this, a 142-country Gallup report on the “State of the Global Workplace” revealed that only 13 percent of workers are engaged in their work. That means 87 percent of your workforce might not care about your business’s success at all.
And that kind of disengaged attitude can rub off on the rest of your team, as well as your clients.
How To Develop A Strong Company Culture
Creating a positive culture is key to improving the productivity and engagement of your employees. But this, like parallel parking, is easier said than done.
Luckily, we’ve got a great tool to help guide you through the process. (And, even better yet, it’s FREE!) Our Culture Code Ebook, Creating A Culture That Matters, can help give you the resources and direction you need to revamp your existing culture into one that breeds engagement and energy.
If only parking could be this easy.
Need some more inspiration for creating your company culture? Check out the ROI Online Culture Code!
