Company Culture And How It Affects Employee Engagement

We hear a lot about company culture, but it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what this means. If you ask two people what defines company culture, you are likely to get two different responses.

Many people think about company culture as the ‘appearance’ of the company to others and the benefits they offer. Culture is so much more than this.

It is not about what you say you do to improve the working environment, but it is about the values of the company, how those values are embedded in everything the company does and, similarly, how those values positively effect how employees are treated.

Fantasy versus reality

There are an alarming number of businesses that put on a ‘face’ for the public about who they are and what it’s like to work for them. They make their business look like the most attractive prospect for any job seeker when the reality is often much different. Businesses with low retention rates will usually have a bad culture or a different culture to what the employee expected.

How to define culture

According to a survey by Glassdoor, 77% of job seekers would consider the culture of a company before they even apply for a job there. Therefore, culture is not just a buzzword, it is something that business must embrace if they want to be successful.

The culture of a business is even more important now that so many of the workforce are working remotely or on a hybrid model. For instance, a company with a good culture would take steps to counteract any risks of isolation for employees i.e. the implementation of platforms such as Teams for instant collaborative communication, keeping the employees updated on any changes within the business and ensuring the employee is happy within their role. The culture of a business is the shared values and everyone working towards the same goal.

“There’s no magic formula for great company culture. They key is just to treat your staff how you would like to be treated” – Richard Branson

Building a positive culture

The culture of a company should be present throughout the entire organisation, from the top of the chain to the those working on the ‘shop floor.’ These are some ways to build a strong culture:

1. Hire the right people – building a positive culture starts with the people you hire. Make sure you hire people who share the values of your organisation, and those that have a positive attitude.

2. Communicate expectations – always ensure that new recruits understand the expectations you have of them, otherwise they will never feel like they have achieved success.

3. Encourage integration – make sure your employees are integrated and are not left feeling isolated. For instance, if their job requires minimal communication with others, you could provide them with mini projects to work on that will allow them to integrate more.

4. Provide and ask for feedback – one of the main objectives for any business should be to encourage an open and honest environment. Provide your employees with feedback and encourage them to open about any issues affecting them via an anonymous platform.

Culture and employee engagement

There are many reasons why culture is important. When employees are unhappy with the culture, they become disengaged and disconnected from the direction of the business. When they are disengaged, they are less likely to be productive in the workplace and more likely to look for work eleswhere. It is, therefore, crucial that employers pay close attention to their culture, and manage it on a regular basis.

The culture can change with any shifts made to the business and it is therefore vital to consistently ask and gauge how employees are feeling to improve employee engagement.

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Building a good culture takes time and effort, and it involves consistency in gaining feedback from employees. We can support your business with always-on surveys, helping you to promote the culture of your business and therefore aiding any changes you need to make. You can contact us on 01223 750 251 to find out more. Alternatively, you can email hello@thymometrics.com or visit thymometrics.com for information.

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash