Corporate Culture

Different companies have different vibes to them which can drastically impact the happiness of their employees.

This is precisely what “corporate culture” refers to. In short, this phrase stands for the beliefs, values, and behaviors that define how workers and management within a corporation interact with one another.

More often than not, corporate culture is something that’s implied, rather than being explicitly defined. As such, it develops naturally as you hire more people—different workers will boast a variety of talents, characteristics, and behaviors that help to mold (or sometimes, hinder) a company’s culture.

You’ll also find that the following factors often impact the kind of culture a company exhibits:

• The culmination of diversity in cultures within the office
• Economic trends
• The current success of the company
• The size of the business
• The niche you’re working in

Here are some of the practical things a company culture might impact:

• Dress code
• Business hours
• Office layout
• Employee salary and benefits
• Hiring decisions
• Overall employee morale

Corporate Culture: A Brief History

People became increasingly aware of corporate culture back in the 60s. However, it wasn’t until the early 80s that the phrase developed to mean what we’re familiar with today. Then in the ’90s, corporate culture became an issue more widely acknowledged and discussed.

During the ’90s, this phenomenon was used by managers, sociologists, and academics to explain the spirit of a corporation—including its beliefs, behaviors, values, management style, office layout, the effectiveness of employee communication, working environment, and overall attitude.

Fast forward to today, and we’re now more aware of corporate culture than ever before. This is hardly surprising when you consider that corporate culture affects every aspect of how a business operates from the effectiveness of employee collaboration to how customers perceive their brand—corporate culture is at the heart of every business.

Take Google, Apple, and Netflix as modern-day examples. These companies are renowned for adopting contemporary management styles that emphasize the importance of creativity and collective problem-solving. They’re also famous for providing employees with higher degrees of freedom—all of which is said to have contributed to the incredible success of these international businesses.

Interestingly, the Harvard Business Review found six critical components that create a successful corporate culture:

• Vision: Having an idea of the sort of corporate culture you want is essential. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a brief mission statement or a more detailed manifesto; it’s crucial to specify the direction of your brand’s culture.
• Values: This notes the attitudes necessary to bring your company’s vision to life.
• Practices: These are the methods that enable companies to implement their values.
• People: This refers to how a company goes about recruiting new talent. Needless to say, this should further reflect your overall culture.
• Narrative: Having a compelling brand story works wonders for improving your public image and cementing your corporate culture.
• Place: This refers to the location of your work in addition to the design and layout of your office.