Company culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, behaviors, and practices that define how people work together within an organization. A strong and positive company culture can help to attract and retain top talent, improve productivity and employee morale, and enhance the overall success of a business. On the other hand, a toxic or negative company culture can lead to high turnover rates, low employee engagement and productivity, and damage to the business’s reputation.
Here’s how company culture can make or break a business:
Positive Company Culture
A positive company culture can help to create a sense of community and purpose among employees. When employees feel valued and supported, they’re more likely to be engaged and productive in their work. This can lead to increased innovation, better customer service, and a stronger brand reputation.
Positive company culture can also help to attract and retain top talent, as employees are more likely to recommend their workplace to others and feel committed to their job.
Positive company culture will look different at any organization, but it generally means that everyone feels positive, safe, and content in their role and working with their colleagues. Examples for how to create positive company culture include the following:
- Flexible work arrangements
- Regular team-building activities
- Employee recognition programs
- Opportunities for professional development
- Celebration of diversity and inclusion
- Supportive leaders and administrators.
Negative Company Culture
On the other hand, a negative company culture can have the opposite effect on a business. When employees feel unsupported or undervalued, they may become disengaged and unproductive. This can lead to high turnover rates, as employees seek out more positive work environments.
A toxic company culture can also harm the business’s reputation because negative experiences may be shared on social media and online review sites. This can make it more difficult for the business to attract and retain top talent and can ultimately hurt the bottom line.
Negative company culture will also look different at any organization, but it generally means that some or all employees feel bad, unsafe, or uncomfortable in their role and working with their colleagues. Examples of what can create negative company culture include:
- Long and inflexible work hours
- Lack of rewards and recognition
- No growth opportunities
- Lack of transparency and communication
- Discouraging diversity and inclusion
- Regular use of blame and criticism
Strong and positive culture can lead to increased productivity, employee engagement, and overall success, while a toxic or negative culture can harm the reputation of a company and have a negative effect on employee engagement and productivity. No one wants to work somewhere that’s uncomfortable and it’s the leadership team’s responsibility to help guide and promote a positive work environment.
To determine where your company culture falls, consider the type of environment being promoted right now – is it positive? Is anyone trying to insert negative culture into the company? If you notice negative behaviors it’s a good idea to speak with the person and try to correct it immediately, or you risk their attitude infecting the whole workplace.
At Arbor we strive to promote a happy and healthy company culture for our employees! If your health care organization is looking for exceptional talent, reach out to us today. We can’t wait to help solve your staffing needs!
