The Elements of Workplace Culture You Need to Know to Make Change

If you have ever noticed that there is a certain atmosphere within your company, you have likely picked up on your company’s organizational culture.  To improve the culture, you need to be aware of how your company functions within that atmosphere.  Consider these elements and how they exist in your workplace as you work to improve your company’s culture.

Recognizing Key Players and Partners

Most organizational leaders can identify those in the workplace that hold more clout and command greater respect at work.  These are the people that you should try to understand, build relationships with, and partner with if you are seeking to improve your company’s culture.  Their social capital will be pivotal as you work to improve that culture.

An Awareness of Leadership

While those employees with more clout will play a key role in your culture shift, you should also remain aware of the formal leadership structure.  The company’s leaders will be most influential in the transformation, and you should maintain a clear understanding of their role in the evolution of the company’s culture.

Deciphering Your Current Culture

As you look to understand your current culture, dissecting everything, from relationships to staffing to workflow, is necessary.  To create positive change, you first need to have a clear understanding of what you are working with so that you can modify the status quo in deliberate fashion.

Planning With Intention and Connection

When working to improve workplace culture, it is necessary to understand what drives the work and make that connection.  As you plan for the changes in workplace culture, make sure that you can connect these changes to the company’s vision, mission, and objectives as well as the needs of the community.

Gradual Change

While effecting a necessary change in culture should not occur at a glacial pace, it also cannot occur overnight.  Changes in culture should happen in deliberate steps and, therefore, will take time.  Such incremental steps, with time built in to evaluate progress, will better facilitate positive change.

Actions Impacting Attitudes

Company employees with pervasively negative attitudes can be more challenging to influence.  Thus, it is necessary to consider how actions intended to change culture may impact such attitudes.  Encouraging and facilitating honest feedback from employees will help avoid surprises in expected outcomes and create buy-in on the part of the employees.

Be Transparent About Progress

If company leadership and staff are supportive of undertaking the changes intended to improve the culture, then they should expect that employees will want to be apprised of the progress.  Encourage feedback through evaluations and surveys, and more importantly, share the results.  This will assist in making sure you create a culture inclusive for all.
If committed to undertaking the effort to create a positive, healthy, and productive workplace culture, then start with an effective plan to achieve the desired culture and stay the course.  Monitor continuously and modify, as necessary, based on feedback.  By addressing the needs of employees as well as the business, you will achieve a culture that improves the business overall, including employee morale and retention.
 
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