What Does Company Culture Mean?

How to Build a Positive Company Culture

With the new year here, it’s a great opportunity to set goals and make changes that will improve life at the office. The beginning of the year is a natural time to launch an initiative and introduce practices that will build and reinforce your team, especially when you focus on how to improve company culture.

This new year, consider measuring company culture at the workplace and making strides toward designing the type of workplace where employees want to be.

What Is Company Culture?

According to BetterUp, “Company culture is the shared values, attitudes, behaviors, and standards that make up a work environment.” This includes how employees experience their work and how those experiences line up with the brand.

A lot goes into company culture, including the overall workplace environment, the expectations you set, and how you set them. Ultimately, you want to create a collective, singular culture that balances professionalism and positivity with fun.

What Is an Example of Company Culture?

There are lots of examples of how to identify company culture. Your corporate dress code, the way the office is laid out, whether or not you offer a perks program, and your social calendar for professional events all factor into your specific company culture. 

For example, if your company dress code is relaxed — every day is Casual Friday! — that goes toward a more laid-back company culture or one that prioritizes comfort. If your office is laid out with shared desks instead of cubicles, that showcases a company culture that cares about collaboration.

 

 

How to Identify Company Culture

Wondering how to determine your company culture? Here are three essential steps.

Observe the Company’s Interactions

Having a well-rounded idea of how (and if) your company interacts with others can clue you into the type of culture you’ve created. For example, consider the following:

• Community events that the company participates in
• Professional development opportunities for employees
• Team-building meetings or excursions

You can assess quite a bit about your company culture by paying attention to these types of interactions.

Get Feedback From Your Employees 

Measuring company culture is easier when you know how your employees truly feel. You can simply ask your employees for their feedback or, better yet, give them an anonymous way to share their opinions. Pay attention to repeat sentiments — if more than one person experienced the same thing, it’s not an isolated case. 

You can also reach out to former employees to ask about their time with the company. People who no longer work for you may be more willing to be truthful about their time with your company.

Set Up an Incentive Program

Companies with a strong culture often have incentive programs for their employees. These programs reward employees for a job well done or going above and beyond in their role. 

This type of reward system creates an environment where employees feel recognized and appreciated. You’ll also be able to figure out who is striving for more and who may be struggling, and you can then speak directly with those individuals about what they need.

How to Create a Positive Company Culture

There are a number of ways to create a more positive company culture:

• Encourage employees to get involved in the community by providing volunteering opportunities and offering paid time off for volunteer efforts.
• Set clear expectations and goals for your employees so they know how their efforts contribute to their professional success and the success of the company.
• Encourage clear, open communication through regular meetings where employees can discuss the latest about their work, express their concerns, and stay focused on their goals.
• Invest in social events so that employees are able to get a break from work and engage with their fellow employees on a more personal level.
• Give thoughtful branded gifts, which are known to retain employees and build relationships while making a lasting impression.

Next, let’s talk about the types of company culture branded gifts to consider giving to your employees.

Custom Gifts to Improve Company Culture

The stainless steel, triple-walled custom S'well Azurite Bottle 17 oz keeps drinks at the right temperature for up to 24 hours. Plus, the bottles are eco-friendly, and ideal for companies with an environment-friendly corporate culture.

Want to encourage your employees to dress comfortability or get active in their spare time? Consider ordering the branded Nike White Swoosh Front Cap, which is made from performance-ready lightweight polyester with Dri-FIT technology to stay cool.

There’s also the company logo Zusa White with Charcoal Plush Siesta Blanket to help your employees get much-needed R&R and balance out their personal lives with their work lives.

Can’t pick just one gift for your well-deserving team? Put together a custom MerchBox with your favorite logo-branded items. You can pick a theme and find customizable products that fit your budget. You can even add branding to the box for a little extra personalization. The best part is that you can have MerchBoxes sent directly to the recipients.

Contact Us

Looking for more custom merch to improve your company culture? Get in touch with us today! We can also go over our custom MerchBox option and help you create the perfect gift set.