What is Culture?
Culture includes the company’s mission, vision, and goals, as well as its leadership style, communication practices, and work environment. It’s the behaviours, beliefs and messages that are shared across the business.
Why is Culture So Important?
It shapes the way people think, feel, and behave at work. A positive culture can create teamwork, creativity, and innovation. A positive culture is not only great for wellbeing – it leads to lower attrition, positive brand building and greater relationships with external partners; all of which are good for business. While a negative culture can lead to low morale, loss of people and even low turnover.
More than ever culture is becoming a deciding factor when looking for a place to work and people to hire.
So, What Makes a Good Culture?
We’re proud of our culture – it’s one of openness, inclusiveness, and advocacy. And we work with some really great businesses across London who pride themselves on their great culture too. Here’s what they all have in common:
Trust
A positive culture requires trust between employees and leadership, as well as between employees themselves.
Communication
Open, honest communication is essential for a positive culture. It helps employees feel heard and valued.
Flexibility
A good culture should allow for flexibility and adaptability.
Recognition
Employees should feel recognised and appreciated for their contributions, whether through formal recognition programs or simple gestures like a thank-you note or a shout-out in a team meeting.
What Do We Think?
We asked people across Crone Corkill what culture means to them.
Jamie Smith, People & Culture Manager
To me culture is feeling connected and like you belong. It’s how you describe work to your friends. If you have a cloud of dread over your head on Sunday night, you’re probably in an environment where you don’t feel like you belong.
At RGF UK, we’ve focused on our culture from every angle and have worked to create a culture that is inclusive, fun, and transparent.
We ask all colleagues to tell us how happy they are at work every month through our Happiness Index and collect feedback on what we do well, but also where we can improve.
So far, we’ve refurbished our head office to have open plan collaboration spaces, we’ve revamped our policies to use inclusive language and we’ve created transparency on pay and pay progression. Overall, our happiness score has increased 23% from January 2023 to March 2023.
Abby Jordan, Director
When it comes to levels of importance, I think creating a good culture in the workspace is top priority. Over the past 5 years I’ve worked at encouraging an open and collaborative environment, where everyone’s ideas are heard and appreciated. Our team is made up of people from all walks of life who have to juggle things in and outside of work. I value work-life balance, and make sure our employees have the flexibility they need to manage their busy lives. We don’t believe in burning people out and I want to make sure everyone can be productive while still enjoying their time at work.
I am proud to say that the work culture we have created here is one that inspires collaboration, creativity, and personal growth.
How to Find a Company with the Right Culture
When job hunting, it’s important to find out whether it’s the right fit for you. There’s no right or wrong – just good and bad fits. Here are some tips:
- Research the company’s mission, values, and goals. Can you find them easily, and can you find examples of them being put to practise? Do they align with your own?
- Look for reviews from current and former employees on websites like Glassdoor or Google Business. How did the businesses respond to any negative reviews?
- Ask questions during the interview process about the company’s culture, communication practices, and leadership style.
- Consider what you see when attending interviews. Is there a good vibe? Does it feel welcoming and inclusive?
- Trust your gut. If something feels off about the company’s culture, it’s probably best to keep looking.
- Speak to your recruiter. Can they ask additional questions for you, or provide any insight?
How to improve your culture
As an employer looking to hire more people and keep hold of them, it’s important to make sure your culture is at the forefront of your business strategy. You should:
- Listen: Gather feedback from current employees through surveys, focus groups, or one-on-one meetings. Ask questions about their experiences with communication, recognition, trust, and values alignment.
- Learn: Use this feedback to identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.
- Act: Create a plan of action that includes specific goals and metrics to measure progress. This could involve implementing new recognition programs, improving communication channels, or providing more opportunities for employee feedback and input.
So, culture really is a big deal in job searching, recruitment (and retention)
Culture is a key factor in any workplace. By understanding what culture means and what makes a good culture, you can make informed decisions about where to work and who to hire.
Need recruitment support?
Speak to our team today to help you find the right fit for you.