In the fast-paced corporate world, driven by data and metrics, there’s a subtle undercurrent that shapes this – workplace culture. Often misconstrued as just an array of modern office , or sometimes as the appearance of a harmonious ‘office family’, the true essence of workplace culture is much deeper. While harmonious relationships and a pleasant environment are valuable, they only scratch the surface of what constitutes a meaningful and impactful culture.

True workplace culture is the foundation of an organisation’s identity, encompassing shared values, practices, and beliefs that shape not just how well people get along, but how they work, innovate, and grow together. It’s about creating an environment where alignment with core values drives every action and inspires a shared purpose.

With growing awareness, forward-thinking business leaders are acknowledging the transformative power of a strong culture – one where employees feel valued, empowered, connected, and where their contributions are recognised, and their talents are nurtured.

A strong workplace culture isn’t just a feel-good perk. It raises employee engagement, drives innovation, and ultimately, propels the organisation towards sustainable growth.

But what constitutes workplace culture?

Workplace culture is defined by Forbes as the shared values, attitudes, and beliefs that shape the way an organisation behaves. It’s formed from a variety of factors, including the company’s vision, mission, values, and the actions and behaviours of its leaders and employees. It influences how employees interact, make decisions, and view their roles and responsibilities.

A strong and positive workplace culture can have a number of benefits:

• Enhanced employee morale and engagement: A positive culture boosts job satisfaction, mental health, and work-life integration, leading to a more engaged, productive and content workforce.
• Elevated performance and productivity: When the culture aligns with employee values and engagement, it improves motivation, efficiency, discretionary effort, goodwill and overall performance.
• Improved attraction and retention: A strong, positive culture attracts talent and reduces turnover, as employees are more likely to stay in an environment where they feel valued and supported.
• Increased adaptability and resilience: A culture that embrace flexibility and continuous learning are better equipped to navigate through challenges and adapt to , ensuring long-term resilience.
• Fostering psychological safety: An environment that promotes psychological safety is crucial for encouraging experimentation, innovation, and adaptability. It allows employees to take calculated risks without fear of negative repercussions, driving creative and innovative solutions.
• Alignment with organisational purpose: Alignment establishes a shared purpose, empowering employees to see their work as part of a bigger picture, motivating them to actively contribute to shared goals.

Cultivating a positive workplace culture

A positive workplace culture is a continuous journey, rather than an end destination. Promoting and cultivating a positive workplace culture is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and unrelenting attention from leadership and all employees. This uncompromising effort and commitment from everyone in the organisation will create a work environment where people feel valued, respected, and inspired to do their best work.

At Redgrave, we recognise the significance of a positive workplace culture and its impact on business outcomes and have extensive experience guiding and assisting on this journey.

Leveraging our experience in supporting clients to secure the right leadership talent, individuals aligned with their core values, we have developed a deep understanding of what it takes to build a thriving workplace culture and drive business success. Drawing on this, we share ten considerations for enhancing your workplace culture:

1. Leadership by example: There is no question that the actions and attitudes of leaders sets the tone for the entire workplace, serving as role models for the values and behaviours they wish to instil. Just as Satya Nadella’s commitment to a values-driven culture propelled Microsoft’s success, leaders play a crucial role in shaping a positive work environment.
2. Define your values: It’s not just about catchy slogans on walls. A compelling vision and values system should be the lifeblood of decision-making and behaviours within a company. According to Forbes, “companies with strong cultures have seen a 4x increase in revenue growth”. It’s key to clearly articulate the values that you want to embody in your workplace. These values should be integrated into every aspect of the workplace, from decision-making to daily operations and reflected in your mission statement, employee handbook, and everyday interactions.
3. Empower employees: Give employees a sense of ownership and autonomy over their work. Encouraging them to take initiative, share their ideas, and contribute to the collective success fosters a sense of engagement and motivates them to excel. Gallup’s research reports that highly engaged teams show 23 percent greater profitability.
4. Foster open communication: Open channels of communication build trust. Encourage open and honest communication between all levels of the organisation. This creates psychological safety and an environment where employees feel comfortable to provide input, share concerns, and offer feedback, without fear of retaliation.
5. Celebrate successes: Recognise and celebrate individual and team accomplishments. Publicly acknowledge achievements, provide rewards and recognition, and create a culture of appreciation. Remember, your workforce is your greatest asset – don’t take your talent and workforce for granted.
6. Invest in employee development: Invest in the professional development of your colleagues. Offer training, mentorship programs, and opportunities that encourage continuous learning and growth. Demonstrating your commitment to development promotes a sense of value and engagement.
7. Promote equity, diversity and inclusion: Encourage a workplace that is inclusive and welcoming to all employees, regardless of their background, identity, or beliefs. Create policies and practices that promote equality and respect, and actively address any instances of discrimination or harassment. A McKinsey report found that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams were 25 percent more likely to have above-average profitability.
8. Encourage a healthy work-life dynamic: Encourage employees to invest in their physical and mental well-being outside of work; promote a culture that values self-care. Studies have shown that companies that prioritise employee wellness often experience lower turnover rates and higher productivity.
9. Hire to complement your workforce: When recruiting new talent, focus on individuals who align with your company values and can contribute to both creating a positive work environment and enhance overall business success. Avoiding hiring people who are strikingly similar to your current employees; instead, focus on cultivating a “culture-add” approach where diverse perspectives enrich your organisation. Partnering with a search and assessment firm like Redgrave can help to ensure this alignment as we prioritise understanding the unique dynamics of our clients’ businesses. Part of our expertise lies in identifying and connecting with individuals who will complement and enhance our clients’ businesses.
10. Ensure an understanding of organisational purpose: A company’s purpose acts as its compass, ensuring alignment with its raison d’être, centered around value creation for the business and its customers. This sense of purpose is integral to shaping company strategies, guiding decision-making, and deeply influencing employee engagement. It ensures that every action within the organisation contributes meaningfully towards its core mission. This alignment creates a sense of fulfilment and psychological safety among employees but also strengthens both customer and employee loyalty, as they resonate with the company’s commitment to its values and objectives.

The state of workplace culture today

While many companies are making efforts to create positive workplace cultures, our research reveals that there’s still room for significant improvement. According to our survey, only 43% of companies rate their culture as good, with a mere 26% deeming it excellent.

This gap between aspiration and reality highlights the need for this continuous and evolving journey of cultivating a strong workplace culture. At Redgrave, we believe leadership success transcends expertise. We excel in assessing and understanding organisational culture journeys. We specialise in assisting our clients to find the right leaders who possess the right qualities to elevate your business and drive cultural evolution. We assess individuals for their potential to “add” to your culture, bringing fresh perspectives and fostering vibrant growth.

We’re deeply committed to this journey ourselves too, regularly reassessing and nurturing our cultural values to create an environment where our teams thrive, our clients flourish, and our company enjoys continued success.

For more insights on how we partner with clients, please contact David Angel or Naomi Barton.