Workplace culture can be defined as the set of human activities within an organization or workplace and the symbolic structures that give meaning and significance to those activities. It encompasses the customs, values, beliefs, behaviors, and norms shaping the overall work environment and employee interaction.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the characteristics of workplace culture and tips for building a positive workplace culture.
Related: What is Workplace Culture?
The Characteristics of a Workplace Culture.
There are seven main characteristics of workplace culture. These characteristics are;
- Innovation and risk: This characteristic refers to the degree employers encourage employees to be innovative and take risks. Innovative and risk-taking culture values creativity, continuous learning, and risk-taking, fostering an environment conducive to innovation. Examples of innovative companies that adopt innovation and risk-taking include W. L. Gore & Associates, Genentech Inc., and Google, which encourage employees to take risks and devote time to projects outside of their regular work.
- Attention to detail: This characteristic refers to the degree to which employees exhibit precision, analysis, and attention to detail. This culture can help prevent mistakes and improve the quality of work. Organizations need to create a culture where attention to detail is valued and rewarded, as it leads to higher productivity.
- Team orientation: The characteristics refer to the way projects or tasks are assigned to teams instead of individuals. Team-oriented cultures foster collaboration, communication, and shared responsibility among employees. When an organization adopts this culture, it leads to better decision-making, increased innovation, and higher employee engagement.
- People orientation: This characteristic refers to the degree to which management considers the effect of decisions on people within the organization. These cultures value fairness, supportiveness, and respecting individual rights. People orientation emphasizes treating people with respect and dignity. This culture leads to higher employee engagement, job satisfaction, and overall well-being.
- Outcome orientation: This characteristic refers to the degree management focuses on results or outcomes rather than on the techniques and processes used to achieve these outcomes. Outcome orientation cultures emphasize the importance of achievement, results, and action. Companies that prioritize outcomes often have systems in place to measure and evaluate performance, and employees are held accountable for their results.
- Aggressiveness: This characteristic refers to the degree to which people are aggressive and competitive rather than easygoing. Aggressive cultures value competitiveness and outperform competitors. The downside to this approach is that it falls short in the area of social responsibility.
- Stability: This characteristic refers to the degree organizational activities emphasize maintaining the status quo in contrast to growth. Stable cultures are predictable, rule-oriented, and bureaucratic. When the work environment is stable and certain, these cultures may help the organization to be effective by providing stable and constant levels of output. The downside to this culture is that it prevents growth and quick action.
Tips for Building a Positive Workplace Culture.
Creating a positive workplace culture involves the entire organization putting in effort every day to enhance the overall work environment. It spreads outside companies’ policies and strategies. Conscious actions shape a positive workplace culture.
Here are tips organizations can use to build and maintain a positive workplace culture.
- Encourage teamwork: Organizations especially those in leadership positions should foster collaboration among employees. This promotes communication and creates a supportive work environment.
- Set realistic goals: The role of employees is to achieve the organization’s set goals. To ensure a positive workplace culture, leaders need to communicate their expectations and ensure they are realistic, achievable, and aligned with the organization’s values.
- Create growth opportunities: Organizations should offer professional development opportunities and support employees in their career advancement to keep them motivated. A positive workplace culture provides opportunities for professional and personal growth. These opportunities include training programs, career development, and mentorship.
- Celebrate wins: This is so far the best way to encourage and motivate employees. Celebrating and encouraging employees’ wins, no matter how small promotes a positive workplace culture.
- Feedback: Conducting regular surveys to get feedback from employees on their concerns or issues and addressing them promotes a positive workplace culture.
- Promote healthy work-life balance: A positive workplace culture encourages employees to maintain a healthy balance between their work and personal lives to prevent burnout and improve their well-being. The company should acknowledge the importance of work and life balance and promote its practices. These include flexible working hours, remote work options, and wellness programs.
- Engage in outdoor activities: Conducting regular outdoor activities allows employees to connect in a more casual environment, talking about things outside office work. This is important for creating a positive work culture, as promotes understanding among employees. Simple outdoor activities like a football match between teams can be effective, as it fosters healthy competition.
- Leadership: Leaders lead by example. Leaders must set an example of positive behavior and values, and hold employees accountable for their actions to create a culture of integrity and respect.
- Transparency: When there is transparency in communication and decision-making, employees feel a sense of belonging.
- Respect and trust: Every organization must create an environment of respect and trust. All employees should feel valued and heard regardless of their status within the company. This principle is especially relevant for interns and new employees who can bring a fresh perspective to the table. These individuals should not be relegated to meaningless tasks but rather should be allowed to showcase their skills and abilities. Every employee has unique experiences and ideas to contribute, and it is essential to create an inclusive workplace culture where everyone feels empowered to share their thoughts and opinions. Who knows, the next groundbreaking idea could come from the most unexpected source, so it is critical to provide every employee with a seat at the table and encourage them to make a meaningful contribution to the organization.
By following these tips, organizations can create a positive workplace culture that caters to its employees.