By: John Colovas
Culture has been a hot topic in the business world recently, but what, exactly, can we classify as culture in a professional setting? Specifically, culture in an organization consists of values, beliefs and shared assumptions that affect the way people interact and behave within their organization. Simply put, culture is what makes an organization unique. Although there are certainly some ways for an organization to govern its own trends and values, culture is mostly interpreted through the individual personalities of the employees. Below are a few characteristics to encourage in order to establish an effective, happy culture in the workplace.
- Innovation – As an employee, the idea that your organization welcomes risk and provides room for individual growth can be extremely motivational. Encouraging workers to shy away from the norm and complete tasks in unique formulas will potentially increase job performance, which, in turn, can allow the organization to grow. Motivating and promoting individuality are great ways to initiate quick improvements to any culture.
- Emphasis on People – There are many organizations that see their employees as exactly that… However, it is important to recognize that every worker is an individual with a unique personality. Properly managing a team involves placing importance on how each decision will affect others in the organization. Keeping employees in the loop and taking their opinions into consideration is likely to create a tremendous boost in morale and productivity.
- Teamwork – Although individuality is important, providing opportunities for employees to work in teams can be extremely beneficial. Not only is working in teams typically more efficient, but it also creates opportunities for employees to build relationships with their co-workers! Developing a personal relationship with your team/co-workers is an essential step toward achieving happiness in the workplace, therefore, making it an essential step toward establishing a respectable culture as well.
- Attention to Detail – Physical success of an organization and its workers plays a key role in developing culture. Although employee satisfaction and relationship building are important, it is also vital that all projects are completed efficiently and correctly. Ensuring that employees are working diligently allows for greater individual improvement and success. If employees are successful and improving at work each day, they are likely to be more satisfied with their jobs and themselves.
The culture within every organization is unique, making it nearly impossible to create a complete list of criteria. However, these key takeaways are a great start toward understanding the basics of what an organization should represent in order to establish a content, effective culture.
What makes your company culture unique?