Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Change Corporate Culture

The corporate culture, or personality, of an organization affects the values, character, productivity and ethics of professionals while they are at work. Corporate culture can be the most important factor in developing and maintaining a happy, team-oriented environment filled with professionals who work well together.Unfortunately, not all companies have a successful corporate culture. If your company needs a little culture pick-me-up, or if you find kinks in working as a team, there are some easy fixes you can implement to improve your culture.


Instructions


1. Be positive. Negativity spreads like the flu. A positive attitude is the perfect vaccination!


2. Refrain from talking about co-workers or management behind their backs. Nothing can poison a corporate culture more than clusters of employees getting together and talking behind the back of one another.


3. Speak up. If you aren’t comfortable with the culture as it is, then let others know how you feel so you and your co-workers can have an open dialogue about it. You probably aren’t alone, and having the issue out in the open in a productive manner will allow it to be fixed.


4. Bring in the fun. It may sound corny, but co-workers bond while playing games together. This bonding, and the friendship it cultivates, can build a more positive corporate culture. Block off one afternoon a month to play a game in which you get to know each other; you’ll be amazed at what you have in common.


5. Offer to help each other. The perception that certain employees have a heavier workload than others can foster the negativity that damages a corporate culture. By helping others, you lighten their load, you seem more accessible and you get a true appreciation for your co-worker’s work.


6. Own up to it. Associates who blame others for their mistakes, or who try to make excuses for errors, can negatively affect corporate culture. If you’ve made an error in your work, acknowledge it. This will allow others to trust you and may encourage others to own up to their mistakes.


7. Apologize. Sometimes, one associate's hurt feelings over something another associate said in passing could be responsible for the negativity behind an eroding corporate culture. If someone expresses that you have hurt his feelings, apologize!