Even if the term “culture” has been used throughout history, it is not something dormant, ancient, or relating to the past, such as symbols and hieroglyphics. The reality is that it thrives and consistently influences every aspect of our everyday life, including your views, passion, behaviour, and ambition, to mention a few.
It’s an all-encompassing word that regulates general behaviour and a healthy lifestyle. It is taught via experience and passed down from generation to generation. It is a common thread that binds us together.
You pick up fragments of culture along the path that contribute to your personal growth throughout your life. The word “culture” comes from the Latin “coloured,” which means “to cultivate.” It is the mirror through which you view the world.
Everyone is the product of culture
When I think back on my upbringing, I recall being exposed to not only my own culture but also the cultures of others. As a result, I was able to be open-minded and have a worldwide perspective on life. I am pleased to be an Asian-American, a cross between eastern and western traditions.
I was able to grow up and study on two continents. I was raised in a tradition-based, value-based, and vision-driven family. My family has dedicated their lives to deeds of service to humanity throughout my life.
To be successful, your strategy must pass through your culture and your people, no matter how clear and persuasive it is. Because your workplace culture must be consistent with your plan, wise leaders inquire, “How does culture affect the workplace?”
Also read: How To Start A Healthy Lifestyle
The Definition of Workplace Culture
Let us define corporate culture before we address the question, “How does culture affect the workplace?”
Corporate culture is defined as how things are done in an organization. It is quantifiable through monitoring and comprehending how employees think, conduct, and work.
This encompasses the known and unwritten attitudes and assumptions that drive crucial business processes and actions, particularly those of a company’s executives who hire, fire, and promote.
Why Organizational Culture Is Important
Corporate culture has a “hard” and quantitative effect on performance, and we know that having a winning performance culture is how an organization may outperform its peers.
An effective culture, according to a recent Harvard Business School research paper, can account for up to half of the difference in performance between businesses in the same industry.
Our organizational alignment research discovered that culture accounts for 40% of the difference in revenue growth, profitability, customer loyalty, leadership effectiveness, and staff engagement between high- and low-performing firms.
According to a recent Bain study of 1,200 top executives, 91% agreed that “culture is as crucial as a strategy for business success.”
Also read: 10 Romantic Surprise Ideas That Will Wow Your Partner
So, how can you foster a high-performance culture?
1. Make a clear distinction between your current and desired culture
To begin, you must understand your current culture in terms of organizational health (values and behavioural norms) and strategic alignment (the degree to which your culture helps or hinders strategy execution). Your business culture evaluation should identify the strengths to improve and cultural deficiencies to address that are impeding organizational health and strategic excellence.
2. Bring Everyone On Board
Work with management and staff to explain what you are attempting to do, and why it is necessary, and to get their feedback on how a high-performance culture might become the new way of life. Include talks about needed system improvements, accountability tracking, reporting, and reinforcing desired actions.
To be successful, every cultural shift must be a company-wide effort. Leaders must be on board, and employees must be allowed to actively establish the values and behaviours that they are most proud of and willing to stand by. Actively persuade any sceptics or compassionately urge them to change their minds.
3. Maintain Everyone’s Support
Culture transitions, by definition, occur gradually. To stay on track and sustain a positive momentum, you must communicate (and overcommunicate) the purpose and progress to the workforce frequently.
And, again and again, you will need to recognize and reward the cultural behaviours that propel the plan ahead in a logical manner.
Also read: Is Aloe Vera Juice Good For Weight Loss?
Top workplace health and safety tips
Healthy lifestyle tips in the workplace help you to meet and surpass performance goals while also encouraging well-being and a decent work-life balance. Adopting tips for a healthy lifestyle in the office, from taking regular breaks to not eating at your desk, is an important component in enhancing your workplace welfare.
Here are seven relatively easy changes you can make to stop the cycle of busyness and increase your well-being and work output:
1. Take frequent breaks
When you’re incredibly busy, it might be difficult to take breaks; however, taking frequent breaks is one of the most crucial things you can do to stay focused and productive. Working smart and taking frequent breaks will enable you to leave the workplace on time, enhancing your work-life balance.
2. Understand your limitations
“If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your task, let your boss know so they can help reduce the pressure,” says Zelm Simsek, Director of Walters People Belgium.
3. Stay away from gossip
While it may be tempting to get involved in office politics or gossip, doing so is counter-productive in the long term and can lead to a poisonous work atmosphere. If a coworker urges you to join in on the gossip, listen with empathy but remain uninvolved.
4. Maintain a clean desk
It may sound stupid, but keeping your desk tidy might help you work more efficiently and feel (and look!) more organized.
5. Eat only in approved places
Keep your work environment as germ-free as possible by eating in designated eating places rather than at your desk.
6. Take sick leave if you’re sick
While it may appear honourable to stay at work when you are ill, staying at work when you are ill is selfish. By not getting enough rest, you risk transmitting your germs to your coworkers and lengthening your healing period.
7. Develop proper posture
Good posture allows you to stay focused on the task at hand and can help you avoid workplace injuries. You will also appear more professional and be less prone to weariness.
Also read: 7 Simple Lifestyle Changes To Get Healthier
In conclusion
Culture (the How) and strategy (the what) are intricately intertwined. You won’t be able to fulfil your business objectives if your culture gets in the way. Involve everyone actively to win their hearts and minds. Is your corporate culture beneficial or detrimental to your business strategy?
