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Company culture is the shared values, behaviours, beliefs, and ways of working that shape how things get done in an organisation. A strong culture boosts employee engagement, retention, performance, and reputation. A weak culture leads to confusion, disengagement, and high turnover.
Start by listening to your people, use anonymous surveys or focus groups. Clarify your mission and values, model them from the top, and align your policies, leadership behaviours, and recognition practices. Small, consistent changes have big cultural impact over time.
Signs of toxic culture include poor communication, blame, burnout, high turnover, fear of speaking up, micromanagement, exclusion, or tolerated misconduct. People feel unsafe, unheard, and undervalued. Addressing root causes early is key.
Foster psychological safety, recognise good work, offer flexibility, encourage open dialogue, and support wellbeing. People thrive where they feel respected, trusted, and connected to a shared purpose.
Companies like John Lewis and Innocent Drinks are often cited for strong culture. They align values with action, treat employees as partners, and lead with transparency, inclusion, and purpose.
Use tools like anonymous staff surveys, focus groups, and performance data. Look for patterns in engagement, absenteeism, turnover, and internal feedback.
Leaders model and reinforce culture daily, through decisions, communication, and behaviour. People watch what leaders tolerate, reward, or ignore. Authentic, aligned leadership is essential for building trust and consistency.
Hybrid work can dilute culture if not managed actively. Regular communication, clear expectations, inclusive team rituals, and remote-friendly tools help maintain connection and cultural cohesion.
A supportive culture can reduce stress, increase belonging, and improve mental health outcomes. Cultures that value well-being can see fewer sick days, stronger performance, and higher retention.
Speak up to a trusted manager, HR, or use whistleblowing channels. All organisations must take harassment seriously with clear policies, safe reporting, and fair investigations. A safe culture doesn’t tolerate silence.