Work cultures are an intangible yet ever-present force that defines the soul of an organization. They bridge the gap between the success or failure of any business. The key elements that contribute to a positive work culture, from cultivating teamwork to driving innovation and understanding work culture are not just about defining an office environment – it is uncovering the secret recipe behind continuous success.
Understanding work culture
Behavioural scientist, TEDx speaker, and author of SWAY: Unravelling Unconscious Bias, Dr Pragya Agarwal, defines work culture as, ”The shared values, belief systems, attitudes and the set of assumptions that people in a workplace share.” She further explains that a positive work culture boosts morale, increases productivity and efficiency, and promotes higher retention rates among employees.
The success in shaping employee behaviour and organisational outcomes is understanding the importance of work culture in an organisation. ”The job may be in your field, the commute may be great, or the pay package may be exactly what you are asking for — or more — but that isn’t good enough,” says Michael McCarthy, an instructor at Harvard DCE Professional and Executive Development and host of the “Happy at Work” podcast. He further states that an organization must be a good fit with your values and offer a workplace environment that is healthy and has effective leadership which will nurture you on your career journey.
Components of a positive work culture
According to the Havard DCE Professional instructor, “Workplace culture is not just about sticking a list of values on a wall in the break room and then going about your day.” It is a commitment that every person in the organization will mirror their behaviour to support those values, ”Including senior leadership,” he adds.
A positive work culture in the workplace is vital. It steers the organisation in the direction of success. Implementing the above is advisable to both employer and employee.
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