What Is Workplace Culture & How Can You Improve It?
Bradford R. GlaserWorkplace culture is an organization’s core values, which are manifested in employee behavior. The core values guide the company and its employees on what should be prioritized in work and interactions with others.
But how can you improve workplace culture? And why does it matter? We’ll dive into everything you need to know below.
- Discover what creates a respectful workplace
- Build a respectful organizational culture
- Maintain and rebuild respect after conflict
Table of Contents
Why Is Workplace Culture Important?
A healthy workplace culture is crucial to every organization for so many reasons:
- Improves employee retention rate. When employees connect with and feel supported by the company’s workplace culture, they report greater job satisfaction.
- Increases performance. When each team member works toward common goals and shares the same values, job performance rises.
- Fosters positive communication. A strong workplace culture clarifies how employees interact and treat each other, encouraging positive communication.
- Builds trust. Knowing that each member is expected to uphold the same beliefs and behaviors can promote accountability and increase trust among team members.
- Eases the hiring process. A clear workplace culture helps identify applicants who are a strong fit for your company.
Good vs Bad Workplace Culture
Workplace culture is an abstract concept that can be difficult to grasp, but examples often provide further clarification.
Here are some characteristics you might see in a company with poor workplace culture:
- Employees have an “every man for himself” attitude.
- Employees don’t see the value of their work.
- Management does not listen to its employees' needs.
- Management disproportionately distributes work.
- The organization offers a poor physical work environment (e.g., dim lighting, uncomfortable chairs, broken appliances).
Here are some characteristics you might see in a company with a positive workplace culture:
- Employees enjoy and succeed working as a team.
- Employees are not disengaged or inactive at work.
- Managers emphasize face time with their subordinates.
- Managers give feedback, direction, and encouragement to employees.
- The organization ensures employees have the proper tools to comfortably complete their jobs (e.g., the right software, decent computers, office materials).
How to Improve Workplace Culture
Improving workplace culture requires time and planning. Consider starting with these key steps:
Assess the Health of your Workplace Culture
First, get a pulse on your current workplace culture. The best way to do this is to assess employee satisfaction. If employees are generally dissatisfied, it indicates the company is doing something wrong that's causing this reaction.
HRDQ’s online assessments are designed to accurately evaluate individual attitudes and preferences. These tools help identify areas for organizational improvement, guiding you toward a better workplace culture.
Determine the Core Values of the Company
Next, identify the core values your organization should embody. Create a list to post on your company’s website and around the office to encourage current and potential employees. Select at least five values, but no more than eight. The clearer and more concise the values are, the easier they are to implement in daily behavior.
Some examples of core values include:
- Doing what you say you’ll do
- Respect the differences of others
- Constantly strive for success and growth
- Work with the utmost integrity
- Be a team player
Implement Core Value Training
Once your core values are defined, integrate them into your workplace by starting with a training program centered on them. The training should provide employees with clear definitions, relevant examples, and practical resources to help incorporate these values into their daily work lives.
View our blog post, "How to Design an Effective Virtual Training Program for Employees" for assistance. Or, get started using the HRDQ Reproducible Training Library.
Show Long-Term Dedication
Improving workplace culture doesn’t end with initial training. It is an ongoing process – culture is constantly evolving, so to ensure your company stays on track, you must remain diligent and adaptable. One way to support your workplace culture’s long-term health is to implement annual check-ins with employees to reassess satisfaction. This will show whether you’re still on course.
You might also consider making long-term changes for your employees, such as rolling out a new career development plan or improving your office space. These are indications that you care about their needs.
Likewise, the organization might consider changing some of its current practices to better align with its core values. It’s not just employees who must adopt the core values – the business as a whole must believe in them as well.
Improve Your Workplace Culture with HRDQ
With this understanding of workplace culture improvement, begin your journey with HRDQ. We provide the assessments, virtual training programs, and workshops needed to cultivate top talent. Our collaborative, intuitive training materials offer the tools to drive lasting, meaningful change that will shape your business’s legacy. Ready to see the benefits of online training? Explore our virtual training programs and assessments today.
