Even though it might not be something talked about a lot, company culture is something you encounter every day. It’s always there, whether you’re aware of it or not. And it evolves as the company evolves. Psychologist Jan Helder explains how to maintain great organisational culture when you’re experiencing fast growth.
The impact of company culture
Company culture is the human element of a company, according to Forbes.
It is a combination of the working environment, beliefs, and values within the company. And it’s influenced by the people who live it and embody it.
“If a company loses sight of the human element by focusing too heavily on productivity, as an example, this has an impact on the culture,” explains Jan.
“And this culture affects the feelings of solidarity, self-confidence and stress levels of employees, as well as mutual trust,” he adds. .
“A positive culture contributes to feelings of self-confidence and ease amongst employees in the workplace. But in an unsafe culture, many people feel less connected to the organisation, which causes them to switch jobs sooner.”
What contributes to great organisational culture?
Jan: “There are various things that contribute towards a positive culture. The following contributors often come up in conversations we have with our clients.” These are:
- Genuine interest and trust from your manager
- Being open to new ideas, innovation and creativity
- Expressing plenty of appreciation
- A feeling of psychological safety
- The American institution Great Place To Work adds the following two elements:
- Community spirit (“we’re all in this together” attitude)
- Fair compensation and enough recognition
These form the basis of a culture where people feel safe and secure: where people feel they can be themselves and that their mental health is a priority.
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The impact of growth and change
The culture within a company plays a major role in how we feel at work. But the changes and growth that an organisation experiences also have an impact here.
“Change affects us in many ways, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be negative,” says Jan. Because change involves challenges, personal growth and new opportunities.
“In order to experience change in a positive sense, it’s important to feel supported. And you create that feeling by ensuring open and transparent communication, building trust and empowering people.”
“A lack of these elements triggers feelings of anxiety and promotes stress,” continues Jan. Humans are creatures of habit. We get used to particular structures, routines and ways of working.
Jan: “Adjusting to new situations takes time and effort. That’s okay, but it takes its toll on us emotionally. It might make us tense or bring up feelings of failure and falling short.”
This means that for rapidly growing companies, it’s even more important to keep an eye on this and bring in the right support – the kind of support that helps people to move forward and become stronger in turbulent times.