When you think of \u2018company culture\u2019, what springs to mind? Breakout rooms with bean bags, pool tables and free M&Ms? The Googleplex? Or is it a more serious thing? A workplace where being heard, respected and valued are more important than Friday arvo drinks and nibbles? Humanising business is where it\u2019s at. All the numbers in the world won\u2019t mean squat if your people don\u2019t give a toss about whether or not the business is achieving financial success.<\/p>\n
Think how you feel when you\u2019re overlooked for a promotion or when you toddle past a meeting room and it falls silent once you\u2019re seen. It\u2019s a horrible feeling! Same goes for \u2018water cooler gossip\u2019, cubicle cattishness and project one-upmanship.<\/p>\n
So what makes a good company culture?<\/strong><\/p>\n Just for starters, it\u2019s \u2026<\/p>\n Honourable values<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 People obviously prefer to work for companies that pay their workforce properly, don\u2019t rip off customers, reward hard work, provide a safe environment, understand the importance of family and contribute to making society a little better. Metaphorically stomping on people\u2019s heads doesn\u2019t do any company any PR favours!<\/p>\n Employees feel part of a team<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 From the top down, everyone matters. Companies that have an inclusion culture care about what everyone thinks, from the CEO to the mail room kid. Inviting\u00a0everyone<\/em>\u00a0to the Christmas party, instead of just the executives, and showing appreciation for all contributions to the business\u2019s smooth running are just two ways to make sure everyone cares \u2013 for each other and the company\u2019s success.<\/p>\n Toxins are addressed quickly<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 For the good of the team, \u2018bad apples\u2019 have to be quarantined asap. One disenchanted employee can infect a whole organisation if their attitude is nasty enough. A good company culture is one that identifies these bad apples and works to either remove or remediate.<\/p>\n Teams are equipped to do their best<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Providing the right environment, tools, equipment, time, resources and freedom to perform at their best is the way to extract maximum productivity and brilliance from the team. Skimping on any one of these dooms projects to failure and can even lead to team mutiny.<\/p>\n Above all, encouraging all team members to embrace and build on the company culture is key to success. A bit like \u201cthe family who prays together, stays together\u201d, in business it\u2019s more like \u201cthe team that gives a damn about the company\u2019s success, will be key to its success\u201d. It doesn\u2019t rhyme, it\u2019s not particularly sexy but it makes sense, doesn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n So share with us \u2013 what\u2019s the best company culture you\u2019ve worked in?\u00a0What did they do that made you jump out of bed every day?<\/p>\n