What is Company Culture?

Key Terms and FAQs

What is company culture?

A company culture definition refers to the shared values, beliefs, behaviors, and norms that shape the work environment within an organization. It influences how employees interact, make decisions, and perceive their workplace.

What is employee engagement?

Employee engagement is the emotional commitment and dedication that employees have toward their work and organization. Engaged employees are motivated, passionate, and deeply invested in their roles, leading to increased productivity and loyalty.

How do HR professionals improve company culture?

HR professionals can enhance culture and performance by fostering a positive work environment, implementing effective talent management strategies, providing ongoing training and development opportunities, and promoting open communication and employee well-being.

How do you foster workplace culture across remote teams?

To foster workplace culture in remote teams, organizations can use regular video meetings for face-to-face interaction, establish clear communication channels, encourage virtual team-building activities, and ensure remote employees feel connected to the company's mission and values.

How does expert recruitment improve workplace culture?

Expert recruitment helps improve workplace experiences by identifying and hiring candidates with the right skills, experience, and culture-add qualities. This ensures that teams are composed of high-quality talent capable of making significant contributions to the organization's success.

What role does leadership play in shaping and exemplifying desired company culture?

Leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping and exemplifying desired company culture by setting the tone, modeling cultural behaviors, and aligning actions with organizational values. Leaders are cultural stewards who establish expectations, communicate the vision, and empower employees to embrace and embody the desired culture through their leadership style, decisions, and daily interactions.

How do employees perceive the alignment between culture and the day-to-day workplace experience?

Employees perceive the alignment between culture and the day-to-day workplace experience through their observations of leadership behavior, the consistency of organizational messaging, and the extent to which cultural values are reflected in policies, practices, and interactions. A strong alignment fosters a sense of belonging and engagement, while inconsistencies can lead to skepticism and disengagement.

What initiatives or programs should be in place to reinforce and promote company culture?

Initiatives or programs that reinforce and promote company culture may include regular communication of cultural values, leadership development programs that align with cultural expectations, recognition and rewards systems that reinforce cultural behaviors, and employee engagement surveys to gauge cultural satisfaction and identify areas for improvement.

How does positive company culture support diversity and inclusion?

A positive company culture supports diversity and inclusion by fostering an environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. Inclusive practices, such as diverse hiring strategies, bias training, and inclusive leadership, reinforce cultural values of equality and respect.

What mechanisms exist for gathering feedback from employees regarding organizational culture?

Feedback mechanisms for gathering insights on organizational culture can include anonymous polls and questionnaires, focus groups, one-on-one interviews, Employee Net Promoter Score surveys, suggestion boxes, and social collaboration and engagement platforms. These mechanisms provide employees with avenues to share their perspectives, concerns, and suggestions related to culture.

How do you measure the impact of culture on employee engagement, retention, and performance?

The impact of culture on employee engagement, retention, and performance can be measured through surveys assessing cultural alignment, employee turnover rates, performance evaluations, and key performance indicators (KPIs) that correlate with cultural values. Qualitative feedback and exit interviews can also provide valuable insights.

How do you maintain and enhance culture during periods of growth or change?

To maintain and enhance culture during periods of growth or change, organizations should prioritize transparent communication, involve employees in decision-making processes, provide cultural training and support for new hires, and actively manage cultural integration during mergers or expansions. Leadership continuity and consistent messaging are crucial.

How do cultural values guide decision-making, especially in ethical or moral dilemmas?

Cultural values guide decision-making, especially in ethical or moral dilemmas, by providing a moral compass and ethical framework. Leaders and employees refer to these values to make choices that align with the organization's core principles, ensuring that decisions are ethically sound and culturally consistent.

Expert Advice

What is the Value of Employee Engagement?

Why is employee engagement important? These types of initiatives pay dividends in the form of thriving workplace culture. Countless studies show how engaged employees are more emotionally invested in their work, which in turn leads to increased productivity, innovation, and employee retention. And as an HR or hiring leader, you know nurturing that engagement is your responsibility.

Fostering engagement starts with open communication, recognizing achievements, and providing regular and authentic opportunities for growth. Consistent feedback, strategic team-building activities, and a culture of inclusion can go a long way in boosting employee morale and outcomes — but there’s much more to refine and develop.

Take a look —

• Company Culture

How Do You Measure the Impact of Employee Programs?

Creating a positive workplace culture often involves implementing various employee programs. However, it's crucial to measure their impact to ensure they align with your organization's goals and values.

Quantitative metrics such as employee satisfaction surveys, retention rates, and productivity levels, combined with qualitative feedback, provide a holistic view of program effectiveness. By regularly assessing these metrics, you can refine and tailor your programs to maximize their positive impact.

How Do I Get Expert Help with HR Strategy?

In the ever-evolving landscape of HR, it's impossible to be an expert in every facet of culture and human capital strategy. How do you effectively lead while retaining bandwidth and resource allocation? It’s a best practice to know when to seek expertise from outside agencies or consultants.

Outside experts can provide fresh perspectives, industry best practices, and specialized knowledge to address specific challenges in HR and workplace management. Whether you need help with diversity and inclusion training, organizational change management, improving the ROI of your hiring, or strategic HR planning, collaborating with experts can lead to transformative outcomes.

How Do Startup Teams Foster Company Culture?

If a successful startup culture needs one thing, it’s making the right hiring decisions. Working in an innovation-driven environment means “culture” is a dynamic, ever-shifting matrix rather than a mature system, and the right talent is what powers that along. As Dennis Wood, CEO and Founder of boardlevel.io, puts it:

Curious about the right culture and hiring decisions in a rapid growth environment? Learn more in Wood’s TechBuzz article.

What Are Resources for Continuous Professional Development?

Sabyn Hansen, Head of Client Success

Jonathan Malan, COO

Robb Lifferth, Head of Business Development

Investing in continuous professional development is not just essential for employees; it's equally crucial for HR and hiring leaders. The HR field is dynamic — with new trends, technologies, and regulations emerging regularly — and the most effective leaders are those who infuse their responsibilities with curiosity, innovation, and efficiency.

Staying informed and up-to-date is paramount. Make it a habit to attend HR conferences, enroll in courses, and engage in networking to connect with peers and learn from their experiences. A well-informed leader can drive cultural and performance improvements, efficiently rally executives for buy-in of new programs, and be a “force for good” within your organization.

How Do I Align HR Fundamentals with Organizational Values?

While exploring new strategies and trends is vital, it's equally important to maintain a strong foundation of HR fundamentals that align with your organization's values.

These fundamentals include effective recruitment and onboarding processes, fair compensation and benefits, clear performance expectations, and a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. Ensuring these fundamentals are in place lays the groundwork for a culture that fosters high performance.

A few resources that may interest you:

• How to Strategize Your Hiring Needs
• How to Recruit and Retain Flexible and Adaptable Professionals
• Generational Overlap in the Workplace

What Expert Questions Would an HR Professional Ask About Company Culture?

To better assess and improve your company culture, ask these questions about your current strategy, organizational values, and workforce:

Understanding the Current Culture

• How would you describe the current organizational culture, and what are its defining characteristics?
• How do employees perceive the alignment between our stated culture and the daily workplace experience?

Defining Cultural Values and Principles

• What values and principles underpin our company culture, and how are they communicated to employees?
• How do our cultural values guide decision-making, especially in ethical or moral dilemmas?

Leadership's Role in Culture

What role does leadership play in shaping and exemplifying our desired culture?

Reinforcing and Promoting Culture

• What initiatives or programs are in place to reinforce and promote our company culture?
• What efforts are made to align HR practices, policies, and talent management with our organizational culture?
• How does our company culture influence our employer brand and reputation in the job market?
• What initiatives are in place to promote continuous learning and development, which aligns with our culture?

Cultural Challenges and Adaptability

• Are there any existing cultural challenges or areas where our culture may not align with our strategic goals?
• How do we ensure that our culture remains relevant and adaptable in a rapidly evolving business landscape?

Diversity, Inclusion, and Employee Feedback

• How does our culture support diversity and inclusion, and what steps are taken to ensure an inclusive environment?
• What mechanisms exist for gathering feedback from employees regarding the organizational culture?

Culture Impact and Employee Well-being

• How do we measure the impact of our culture on employee engagement, retention, and performance?
• How do employees perceive the alignment between our stated culture and the daily workplace experience?
• What efforts are made to align HR practices, policies, and talent management with our organizational culture?

Culture During Growth and Change

• What strategies are employed to maintain and enhance our culture during periods of growth or change?

Innovation, Connection, and Unique Aspects of Culture

• In what ways does our company culture foster innovation and adaptability in response to market dynamics?
• What strategies are used to celebrate and preserve the unique aspects of our culture while fostering a sense of unity among employees?

Safety and Well-being

• How do we ensure that remote or geographically dispersed employees feel connected to and integrated into our company culture?
• How does our company culture influence our employer brand and reputation in the job market?

These expert questions delve deep into the intricacies of company culture, helping HR professionals assess, shape, and optimize it to create a workplace environment that aligns with organizational values and goals while promoting employee engagement and well-being.

Driving Sustainable Change and Improvement

As a hiring leader, the category of "Culture and Performance" at work is your compass for guiding your organization towards success. Prioritizing employee engagement, measuring program impact, seeking expertise when needed, investing in continuous professional development, and aligning HR fundamentals with your values are all critical components of a thriving workplace culture. By embracing these insights, you can create an environment where employees are inspired to excel, leading to exceptional performance and sustainable growth.