Imagine the following scenario — it’s your first day at a brand-new job. You know no one and you lack experience. The first 3 hours of onboarding sessions pass in the blink of an eye and, before you know it, someone is handing over your first assignment.
You still know nothing.
The following course of action is generally the same for everyone: panic, panic, and panic.
Now imagine a different scenario — all conditions are the same, except, this time, a colleague shows you around the office. Your manager sits with you, repeats everything from the onboarding classes, and answers all your questions. They give you plenty of time for your first assignment and encourage you to focus on the quality without creating a sense of urgency.
This is a clear-cut example of a well-developed company culture.
In this post, we will:
- Explore the concept of company culture,
- Show why it is an important phenomenon, and
- Present you with the benefits of developing it.
Stay tuned!
Table of Contents
What is company culture?
As you might have guessed, company culture is not a tangible phenomenon that you can simply preach or explain to someone and expect them to embody it.
Simply put, company culture is an acquired set of characteristics, specific to a group of people that work within a single organization. Generally, such characteristics are reflected in the group’s:
- Norms,
- Values,
- Ideals,
- Attitudes, and
- Aspirations.
Certain characteristics, such as aspirations and norms, can be imposed by the managing staff, but they are never truly acquired by the employees until they become “part of the system.”
For instance, a common cultural norm that modern companies preach revolves around inclusivity — providing equal opportunities for otherwise marginalized groups. However, it is often the case that the companies that preach it the most, comply with it the least.
One way to look at it is that a company is a living, breathing organism, and each employee represents a cell with an important function. Cells differ according to their function, but they all carry the same DNA — the same authentic trait that determines the way the body behaves.
💡 Pumble Pro Tip
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Types of company culture
Many studies have been conducted on the topic of organizational (company) culture, and the general consensus is that there are 4 widely accepted types of company culture.
According to Quinn and Cameron, professors and experts in the field of organizational behavior, culture typology consists of 2 groups of 2:
| Internal | External | |
| Flexibility | Clan culture | Adhocracy culture |
| Control | Hierarchy culture | Market culture |
On the one hand, the “internal vs. external” group is reflected through the lens of employee communication and collaboration.
Namely, clan culture supports a friendly and/or family working environment where success is defined through teamwork and consensus. Alternatively, market culture rests on goal-oriented foundations where competitiveness and “grind” culture thrive.
On the other hand, the “flexibility vs. control” group rests its principles on work dynamics and results.
Simply put, adhocracy culture values innovators, risk-takers, and frontrunners in the field of discovery. Alternatively, hierarchy culture is present in your run-of-the-mill companies that dictate work through procedures, bureaucracy, and slow-paced results.
💡 Pumble Pro Tip
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How to build company culture?
As previously mentioned, a group’s culture is generally considered to be a naturally occurring event — a spontaneous consequence of circumstances. However, a group can contribute and direct thoughts and behaviors toward building a positive organizational culture.
Here are 4 easy steps you can take to build a positive company culture.
Step #1: Clearly state your company’s mission
To induce motivation and a sense of purpose as a group, incorporating a set of values, mission, and company goals is a must.
It’s basic psychology — if you’re properly motivated and understand the direction you’re heading in, you’ll have a clear picture in your mind of what you need to do and how to do it.
For example, you can conduct regular meetings and check-ins with your team and direct their work toward the right course. If your mission is quick company expansion, make sure everyone is clear that the following phase requires hard work, after which they’ll be rewarded.
💡 Pumble Pro Tip
Without proper goals and clear communication, no team can actually prosper and reach its potential. To find out how your employees can channel their teamwork and become the best version of themselves, check out the following blog:
Step #2: Make sure everyone’s on the same page
It might seem straightforward and obvious, but getting everyone on the same page is not as easy as it seems.
When you’re a low to mid-level employee, chances are you consider work the place where you come every day, do the job you’re paid to do for 8 hours, and receive compensation for your efforts — that’s pretty much it.
Needless to say, such a mentality does not benefit the company’s goals.
Therefore, a good course of action would be to have managers and HR staff conduct scheduled meetings with individual employees to discuss their:
- Career,
- Goals,
- Aspirations, and
- Motivations.
Collective growth starts and ends with each individual. If they’re properly motivated and eager to progress, the whole organization will prosper.
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Step #3: Bring people together
Developing the hive mentality has its pros and cons, but in terms of organizational culture, certain traits can have a positive impact.
Aside from the obvious con, which is the tendency to fall for group decision making, the hive mind’s most recognizable characteristic is working together toward a common goal, regardless of what it is.
A company can take advantage of that to facilitate bonding within the group — and have a little fun from time to time.
For example, you can try to get people hooked on a fun team-building activity like Friday pub quizzes or weekend get-togethers. Experiment with different ideas and find the one that people enjoy the most.
It’s a way of bonding, sharing experiences, and getting people on similar wavelengths.
Step #4: Set an example
The final, and most important step, is directed toward leaders and managers. It’s quite simple — set an example by doing the things that correspond to your company’s values and goals.
Need your employees to work extra hours? Stay with them.
A mistake was made on a project that led to a missed deadline? Take responsibility for your role in the mistake.
A true leader mirrors the company’s culture. And, as a bonus, this behavior will benefit you as well — show your dedication and people will respect you.
What are the benefits of developing a good company culture?
Any type of culture — household or national, for example — closely impacts the way individuals think, behave, and make decisions. Therefore, its impact on the overall progress of a group is quite evident.
When it comes to companies, a positive company culture directly impacts:
- Employee engagement,
- Talent retention,
- Motivation and morale, and
- Employee experience.
However, there’s more to it. Let’s see what types of benefits you can expect after your company develops a unique cultural environment:
Benefit #1: Employee loyalty
Loyalty is not a one-way street — if you do your best to make your employees happy, they’ll show good results in return.
In practice, fulfilling every request and desire employees may have can be problematic. However, to ensure employee loyalty, you don’t have to cater to everyone’s whims — you just have to communicate.
The most loyal employees value transparent communication. If there is a concrete reason you’re not able to offer additional PTO or dish out raises at the end of each quarter, communicate it to your employees.
Additionally, according to a Harvard Business Review study, employees are 76% more engaged when their management is transparent.
In layman’s terms —transparency and fairness build loyalty, which consequently builds a positive company culture that nourishes open communication.
💡 Pumble Pro Tip
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Benefit #2: Reduced absenteeism
Do you think your business model could profit from building a market organizational culture? If so, introduce bonuses, incentives, and perks for employees who are never late, work hard during their shifts, and rarely cut corners at work.
Results? You’ll see a massive decrease in absenteeism and an increase in productivity. The business will prosper, employees will be content, and you’ll be building toward success.
Also, it goes without saying that introducing benefits helps nurture the other 3 types of culture as well.
Benefit #3: Low turnover rates
Quite obvious, but it needs to be said — if you develop a culture that keeps employees satisfied, you’ll have low turnover rates.
Consequently, your HR department will have more time and resources at their disposal, considering they won’t spend all their time interviewing new candidates and conducting exit interviews with the ones leaving.
Additionally, Pumble’s report on productivity at work and employee engagement shows high correlation between low-turnover rates and companies that invest in cultural gatherings, events, and overall engagement.
Finally, the HR department will be able to focus their energy on improving the day-to-day of the employees and making staying with the company worth their while.
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Try Pumble, a secure, reliable, and easy-to-use communication tool.
Boost your company culture with Pumble: Communication made easy
Every growing company deals with an ever-changing culture. People come and go and habits change, which makes it hard to stay on top of everything — especially in a remote setting.
That’s why it’s important to remain in constant communication with all your colleagues, regardless of how long they’ve been at the company. Share ideas, communicate, and build relationships in order to boost your culture the right way.
Try Pumble — a communication and collaboration app that lets you:
- Message your colleagues,
- Conduct audio and video calls,
- Join private and public channels, and
- Invite partners to collaborate.
Do you nurture clan culture in your company? Then use public channels to keep things light, and send a meme or two to your team first thing in the morning.
Maybe you’re a fan of hierarchy culture? If so, you’re probably addicted to being strategic, organized, and on top of everything.
Pumble can help you achieve your organizational goals with message scheduling, having a space for all your to-do lists, and the option to integrate your Google Calendar directly into your communication app — everything is possible with Pumble!
Let your company culture blossom — try Pumble today!
