On Friday, 17th of November 2023, Motherboard held a Twitter Space on 'Workplace Culture: From Buzzword to Backbone' featuring Adewumi Alphonso as the guest speaker. 

Adewumi Alphonso, a seasoned HR professional, global speaker, and certified professional coach gave an in-depth lecture on the significance of workplace culture, key components of a thriving workplace culture, and what culture looks like for remote teams. This blog post serves as a recap of the key insights that she shared.

What Exactly Is Workplace Culture?

Workplace culture is the shared behaviors and beliefs that shape the 'rhythm' of the workplace. As Adewumi Alphonso puts it, it is the "smell of the company."

Workplace culture extends far beyond the lofty values presented on websites. It's all the recurring patterns and unwritten rules that influence certain behaviors at work, and it doesn't always align with the company's proclaimed values. For example, if a company talks about punctuality a lot but everyone is always late, the real culture is not what they say it is. 

Some Common Organizational Culture Archetypes

There are varied dynamics within workplaces. From family culture fostering closeness to innovative setups encouraging creativity, each archetype influences your organization differently. Some notable archetypes include:

1. Family Culture - This culture emphasizes building close-knit relationships and a sense of belonging among employees.

2. Innovative Culture - This culture is typically supported by systems, tools, and processes that foster innovation. Employees are encouraged to explore new ideas and be creative. 

3. High-Performing Culture - Often seen as a cutthroat culture, this type prioritizes performance above all. Employees are expected to focus intensely on achieving goals. 

4. Collaborative Culture - Teamwork and collaboration are the key characteristics of this culture. Employees trust each other, feel comfortable exchanging ideas, and are not afraid to ask for help. 

5. Hierarchical Structure - The hierarchical structure features multiple levels of authority within the same organization and is often characterized by a clear chain of command.

6. Blended Culture - This represents a mix of various cultural elements, sometimes due to an inability to identify a singular culture.

Every archetype has its own positive and negative aspects. The choice of culture largely depends on the organizational goals. It's your responsibility, as a leader, to navigate and minimize the risks associated with the negatives.  

The Significance of Workplace Culture

Workplace culture is hailed as the backbone of successful organizations because of its multifaceted significance. It affects areas such as:

1. Employee Satisfaction - Workplace culture actively shapes how employees behave, decide, and connect. A positive culture increases employee contentment and fosters an environment where your team flourishes.

2. Productivity and Innovation - Toxic workplace cultures are known to stifle creativity. Employees struggle to perform optimally in negative atmospheres or environments, which is why having a positive culture is important for your organization.

3. Talent Attraction - Great work cultures act as magnets for top-tier talent. Your positive workplace reputation becomes a compelling force, drawing in skilled individuals eager to be part of your dynamic team.

4. Achievement of Company Goals -  When it comes to achieving goals, communication and collaboration are very necessary. A positive culture ensures your employees are not just present but engaged, satisfied, and motivated to contribute actively to the company's overall success.

Listen to the full Twitter Space recording here!

Key Components of Thriving Workplace Cultures

Below are some of the key components of healthy and thriving workplace cultures:

1. Effective Communication - Workplace communication needs to be strong and effective. It's about truly understanding and being understood.

2. Trust - Trust is like the glue that holds a positive workplace together. Trusting your colleagues builds a foundation for effective collaboration and openness.

3. Diversity and Inclusion - Everyone matters. Creating policies that consider the diverse needs of all employees, no matter their background, ensures inclusivity in your workplace.

4. Continuous Learning - Embracing a culture of continuous learning involves keeping curiosity alive in your organization. Your workforce's eagerness to learn and the organization's commitment to providing growth opportunities are crucial.

5. Openness - Fostering a culture of openness results in more engaged and confident employees. They are able to share ideas, concerns, and feedback freely, and work efficiently toward the growth of your organization.

Achieving a thriving workplace culture is an ongoing journey, and these key components are at the heart of making it happen. Your commitment to embracing these elements contributes to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, heard, and inspired to grow.

How to Balance a High-Performing Culture and Employee Well-being 

As a leader, your role in maintaining a high-performing culture without veering into toxicity is paramount. This balance hinges on effective communication and instilling an entrepreneurial spirit in your team. Encouraging your employees to view themselves as business owners can foster a positive mindset, shaping their approach to workplace demands. 

Before demanding an entrepreneurial mindset though, it's important to assess if the rewards you offer align with your performance expectations. The implementation of recognition and reward systems plays a significant role in maintaining a healthy high-performing work culture. 

Shaping Workplace Culture through Benefits

Employee perks and benefits are tangible aspects of culture that help to reinforce your intended intangible company culture. These tangible aspects of culture answer the question of what employees gain from aligning with your company and its values. Without these, your culture may remain superficial, existing only on paper or online. 

You need to be intentional about creating benefit packages if you want your culture to be deeply ingrained in the workplace. Whether it's family care or compulsory medical checkups, each benefit contributes to the well-being and commitment of your employees.

For instance, in a high-performing culture that values dedication, perks like leave days and vacation benefits are important because they give your workforce time to relax and recharge, enabling them to keep performing at their best.

Using an employee benefits platform like Motherboard makes it easier for your organization to offer more relevant benefits, and also introduce some level of customization or personalization to further empower your workforce.

Maintaining Positive Culture For Remote Teams

The Covid pandemic, which led to an increase in the adoption of remote and hybrid work models, raised more communication barriers in the workplace, resulting in less team bonding. 

To maintain a positive culture for largely remote teams, organizations should focus on continuous communication, create virtual team bonding programs, and organize remote activities to keep people engaged and foster trust and synergy. The key is never stopping communication and finding opportunities for informal interactions to prevent a decline in productivity.

Conclusion 

By building and maintaining a workplace culture that values employees, aligns with organizational goals, and adapts to change, you can easily pave the way for sustained success. 

Remember that the tangible and intangible aspects of workplace culture are equally important and must blend together. 

As always, Motherboard is your one-stop hub for comprehensive employee benefits that ensure your workforce feels valued, satisfied, and motivated.

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