The Importance of Establishing a Strong Company Culture

This post was originally written by Youa Vang. It has since been updated by ArcStone. 

Every organization has a culture. Whether it was intentional or not. A strong company culture embodies your organization’s core values and the values of your employees. The goal is to have an established company culture that accurately represents your organization's mission and overall character.

Why is having a strong company culture so important? 

Research has shown that 88% of employees believe that a positive workplace culture is important to the success of a business. There are many things to consider when creating a strong office culture, so we’ve listed out a few to help you determine what kind of company culture you want to curate. 

Workplace Atmosphere

The atmosphere in your office space is a key component to having a healthy company culture. Most people want to work in an encouraging workplace that provides a positive environment to nurture good work habits.

Having a comfortable workspace and benefits that people actually care about greatly contribute to the organizations aesthetic and morale levels. And, most importantly, a positive work environment reduces stress levels and attributes to creative thinking.

A strong office culture gives employees purpose and makes them more enthusiastic about their job which in turn, increases their productivity level. Employees who are not excited about their work tend to not do as well and are more at risk of leaving.  

Work/Life Balance & Responsible Flexibility

It’s important to recognize that not everyone gets their work done the same way. Some people may thrive and do their best work from their home or a coffee shop and some may be morning people who prefer to start working at 7am instead of 9am. Everyone works a little bit differently. And that’s okay, understanding that your employees may have different work styles and catering to that flexibility shows them that you value their work and their time. 

Over the last few years, more and more organizations have seen the benefits of allowing their employees to work remotely. Having a strong work/life balance is a pretty common value for many employees. According to the State of the Remote Job Marketplace report, 3.9 million people in the United States work from home at least half the time. It is predicted that at least 38% of full-time employees will be working remotely in the next 10 years. With the advancements in technology, many companies are allocating for this demand by providing their employees the flexibility to have a strong work/life balance.

This kind of office culture encourages and empowers employees to build a work-life plan based on their individual needs and personal life situations while still enabling them to full-fill their work responsibilities, maximize their productivity level, and positively represent their company or organization.

Relationships & Workplace Involvement 

Another big thing is providing support for employees to build relationships with their co-workers. Having an office culture that encourages employees to work together, whether it be in person or through the magic of technology, have a stronger foundation of employees that get along and are more collaborative.

Companies can provide their employees the opportunity to build relationships with one another both within and outside the workplace in a number of ways. For instance, doing company outings or happy hours, participating in local events, doing volunteer work, or even going to industry related conferences. I know, it’s easier said than done to get one’s employees to participate or attend planned bonding events. However, the success of a company’s culture will be indicated by each employees willingness to be invested and excited to be there.  

Clearly having a strong office culture is something you want to consider establishing if you haven’t already. The “vibe” of a company is incredibly powerful and it can make or break your employees work experience as well as the overall success of one’s organization.