Each organization has its own unique culture. From the way executives handle expansion to the conversation around the water cooler, the organization’s culture permeates the way work happens. New hiring practices have begun looking at culture and personality as two facets for finding the right people to fit the company. For example, some employers have candidates take a personality test to ensure they will mesh well with current team members.
The goal is to promote a corporate culture that upholds the company’s vision and values while creating an environment for employees to thrive. Some companies have really captured the essence of how to do this. A positive and progressive corporate culture leads to many benefits for the employees and the company. Here are just five of the potential benefits that grow from good corporate cultures.
1. Creativity. A positive corporate culture sparks creativity through clean spaces and a warm environment. It also leaves room for creative ideas and rewards innovation.
2. Productivity. When employees like what they do, they do it better and faster. Improving productivity happens naturally when the corporate culture empowers workers.
3. Collaboration. Progressive cultures invite employees to cross department lines for better collaboration and teamwork.
4. Communication. Sharing information and ideas is an important part of open communication so employees are “in the loop” and encouraged to offer feedback to higher ups.
5. Growth. Companies that promote personal and professional growth often reflect this culture of growth through corporate growth as well.
These five areas flow from positive and progressive corporate cultures that invite their employees to invest themselves in the company rather than merely fill a job. There are many outstanding companies that are intentional about creating strong corporate cultures. Take a look at some of the ways these three companies are fostering a positive culture throughout their organizations.
- REI: The outdoors company maintains their foundational focus on members by keeping their employees as a central focus of their company. REI describes its employee culture in just four words: casual, approachable, collaborative and playful. (Check out: http://rei.jobs/people/)
- Southwest Airlines: Anyone who has flown with Southwest Airlines has likely experienced the corporate culture at work in the way the flight attendants and pilots interact with customers and co-workers. They often tell jokes and keep the mood light and fun. Southwest’s employees enjoy their company so much that they started an employee-blog to share it. Nuts About Southwest is an upbeat illustration of a positive corporate culture. (Check out: http://www.blogsouthwest.com/)
- Google: Always on the edge of innovation, Google boasts some of the most progressive cultural practices. From their café spaces to the open communication between employees and executives at weekly meetings, Google as a company embraces the diversity of their employees in order to serve their customers even better. (Check out: https://www.google.com/about/company/facts/culture/)
This is part 2 in a series on corporate culture. If you missed part 1, Is Your Corporate Culture Working for You or Against You?, you can take a look by clicking here.
Read the next posts here:
Five Signs of a Toxic Corporate Culture (Part 3)
Evaluating Corporate Culture and Making Changes (Part 4)
Share your thoughts in the comments below. What aspect of corporate culture is most important to you?
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