Talking about company culture can feel a little bit like talking about the wind. You can’t necessarily see it, but you can feel it.
And sometimes, it can be even more difficult to describe company culture. Especially when you’re trying to determine whether it’s a toxic workplace or simply a work environment in need of a positive culture boost.
So whether you’re an employee or an employer, we’ve got you covered. Because finding the right words to describe company culture can be hard.
But we’ll help you find the following words. And give you an action plan on how to make those ideas a reality at your office.
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How do you ask about company culture?
New employees don’t often feel like they can come out and say, “Describe your company culture.” So here are a couple of ways those employees might be getting to know what the company culture is like at their new job.
#1. Ask about employee engagement
A healthy culture at the office often means having a diverse workforce and an engaged staff. In fact, engaged employees tend to make for a strong company culture because they’re invested in their environment.
So if you have an employee asking about engagement levels during their onboarding process, they’re likely trying to gauge the employee experience. Besides, they probably also want to get an idea of how people interact with each other.
#2. Inquire about work life balance
Talented employees can be found but are most often cultivated. And by that, we mean that it is possible for you to make your current employees all the more successful at their jobs.
And that’s through maintaining a work life balance. Of course, you want employees to work hard.
But if that’s all they ever do, then the work environment never gets any levity. And other team members can start to feel the dark cloud of constant work and no fun overhead.
But an easy way to find this balance in company culture is by bringing in some corporate entertainment every now and then. Seriously, a virtual comedian can do wonders for employee engagement.
Not to mention that it shows off your company’s cultural values too. You want to make sure employees feel they’re being treated fairly? Then spend time with them and show them a good time.
#3. Get existing team members’ opinions
You might be thinking this is something only other employees can do. But companies can greatly benefit from asking their workers about their specific employee experience.
Like we mentioned before, company culture is a feeling. So understanding that feeling straight from employees’ mouths is a great place to gauge where company culture is currently at.
Is it the type of place where people work hand in hand? Or is it an overly competitive environment that could do with a more inclusive culture?
#4. Ask about a company’s vision
Another way potential hires will ask about company culture is by assessing the company’s overarching goal. What ideas does this business have for the future?
And what values does it want to implement on the way to achieving that goal? Oftentimes, this will be information that’s open to the general public.
And should also be reflected in companies’ brands. But if you’re wanting to address or change up your workplace culture, this is a great place to start when accurately describing what kind of changes you want to make.
#5. Ask about the possibility to work remotely
If an employee is coming into a job thinking that they want to do remote work, then they’ve got a specific idea of what kind of company culture they’d like to fit. Perhaps it’s a business with organizational culture.
So much so that employees can work from home since they remain on top of things. Or maybe it highlights companies who take their employees’ mental health seriously and brings in a virtual emcee for meetings every so often.
Either way, employees can learn a lot about an organization and their culture from whether they can work remotely or not. After all, the core of a company’s culture is in how they get things done.
How to introduce changes to a company’s culture
If you’ve been wanting to change things up with the team, then consider this a free template to changing your company’s culture. From these tips, you’ll learn how to get everyone on the same page and make a positive impact in the office.
#1. Define your company’s core values
All organizations need to be able to come up with some words to describe their core values. Whether that’s “innovation,” “respect,” “teamwork,” or otherwise.
And if your business is in need of a little updating? Then this is the perfect opportunity to bounce ideas off of colleagues and get an idea of how to make your workplace culture a great one.
Your values should also focus on the vision you have for the organization in both long-term and short-term perspectives. And the best ideas come from looking at what’s currently working and what can be improved upon.
#2. Ask for employee feedback
You might think that this process is just talk. But defining company values in a collaborative way can actually bring the team together.
This way, everyone in the organization gets a say as to what kinds of values are implemented in the workplace. And you may even find employees with different skill sets that come forward during the process.
Additionally, this tells employees that they are valued and an integral part of an organization. So much so that they are helping to define the workplace they’re in.
#3. Collaboratively write a mission statement
Once you and your team of employees have settled on company goals, it’s time to set it in stone. Or paper, really. Okay, digital copy, it’s 2022 people!
This mission statement will act as a general guide for the culture at the company. Not to mention it will also be a guiding principle for Human Resources too.
Think of it as a handbook for how employees can live and work by the company’s values. Or how it will affect the team of the organization in both their personal and professional lives.
Seems like a tall order. But having these defined company goals written out serves as inspiration to keep the positive momentum going forward.
#4. Make a plan to implement positive workplace culture
Company culture doesn’t change overnight. And that’s why it’s important for the team to understand that there will be actionable change going forward.
So create an action plan and consider what team resources, budget, and timeframes you have at your disposal. Of course, this will be a kind of trial-and-error process.
But continually referring to and adjusting those company goals will help to inform this kind of change amongst the team. We promise it’ll be worth it.
#5. Continually promote a healthy work culture
Everybody wants to have a great company culture immediately. But unfortunately, that’s not the way it works.
Instead, it’s something that you and your employees will have to constantly work at. So creating a healthy company culture truly is a team effort.
Organizations can benefit from consistently adjusting or referencing their company goals – maybe even treating everyone to some corporate entertainment too. So remember that you can use your vision statement as a baseline for any business opportunities or office culture guidelines.
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How do you describe company culture?
Defining company culture can feel like a difficult job. But here are some of the biggest takeaways that you and your employees can refer to when getting everyone on the same page.
Company culture is based on a company’s mission
Employees can always refer to the company’s mission statement for inspiration and innovation. Not to mention that it helps them place emphasis on the right parts of the job.
Or, you can think of it this way. The mission statement is when you talk the talk, but company culture is when you walk the walk.
It articulates company values
If a company doesn’t know what its values are, then there’s a problem. Not only do employees have nothing to turn to.
But their managers and supervisors don’t either. And that just leads to a workplace with no direction.
But even just the process of articulating organizational values is a great way to combat this terrain. And when employees are involved in the process, it offers them a sense of empowerment since they had a hand in creating the space in which they work.
Great company culture fosters open communication
More than anything, figuring out one’s company culture gets people to communicate. You might think that a workplace is simply a place of work.
But it has the potential to be so much more than that. So if you notice that communication skills are lacking in the office, consider using the discussion of company culture as an exercise.
You’ll be asking employees what they want out of the job. And you’ll be getting an idea of where everyone is at with their current workloads.
More than anything, you can think of company culture as a tool. And you always have the power to change it by opening up that discussion.
What are common words to describe company culture?
If you’re having trouble coming up with words to describe your company culture, consider these examples. They may not apply to your organization in particular, but maybe they’ll lead to some inspiration down the line.
Transparent
A transparent company culture is one of unlimited access. Whether it’s transparent communication between employees.
Or even transparent communication between employees and customers. Already, clients like to know that they can trust your organization. And being open and honest with them is a great way to earn that trust.
Connected
A connected workplace is one that has a strong team behind it. When there’s a strong connection between team members, the work feels lighter and easier to manage.
Because everyone is taking on their equal part of the task. Additionally, a connected workplace might refer to a company’s customer base.
Nurturing
Let’s say that your company culture is nurturing. What exactly does that mean?
Well, it might mean that your organization has its employees’ career advancement in mind. And openly offers opportunities for growth.
Or, it might mean that the company nurtures its relationships with clients and employees alike. Either way, it’s one that is deeply invested in its relationships.
Activating
An activating company culture may look like a fast-paced work environment. One that’s productive and busy but without compromising quality.
This could be just the right kind of company culture for a workplace that’s in need of a little pep. Or even a little more determination and drive.
Enriching
An enriching workplace is one that looks at the big picture. Not just with its employees or its clients.
But with itself. Because enrichment looks at all sides of the coin and figures out which parts need a little more attention in order to help the entire organization remain afloat.
This might manifest in the form of enrichment programs for employees. Or maybe even additional causes that the company takes on to help the wider community.
Final thoughts
Sometimes, talking about company culture can feel a little difficult. Not just because you don’t know where to start.
But you’re not sure what direction your company is heading. But hopefully, these tips can help you start the conversation with your colleagues.
And you can create a company culture that suits the needs of every individual involved.
Keep Reading: What Are The Benefits Of Public Speaking?
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Adam Christing is a professional comedy magician, virtual MC, and the founder of CleanComedians.com. He is a member of the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood and a popular corporate entertainer, magician, and virtual speaker.
