What words best describe a company’s culture? It’s an important question that every business leader should consider. After all, a strong company culture plays a huge role in its success. It influences both employee engagement and productivity, so it’s worth paying attention to.
Understanding how to define your unique company culture is essential because it sets the tone for everything your company does. In case you need a refresher, company or organizational culture refers to the values, expectations, and practices that guide your team daily. While you can witness company culture through the actions of managers and employees, it can be challenging to describe company culture.
You need to use the right words to describe your current company culture and how you want it to grow from here. Defining your culture will help to create unity among your team members — it’s a great way to make sure that everyone is on the same page. The question is: How should you describe your company culture? We’ll be talking all about it in this article, so stick around!
Why is Company Culture Important?
In a nutshell, company culture encompasses the shared beliefs, behaviors, and customs that define how people interact within an organization. It includes everything from how employees communicate and dress to their punctuality and how well they’re able to collaborate with one another.
In a traditional corporate environment, you might expect formal attire and professional email etiquette. On the other hand, startup cultures tend to embrace a more casual dress code. Company culture is about so much more than just the dress code, of course — this is just an example!
Leadership plays a very important role in shaping company culture. Leaders, after all, establish the organization’s mission statement and core values. They set the tone for attitudes and expectations throughout the company. The language they use to articulate these cultural elements is something to take into consideration since it influences employee retention as well as how employees will perceive and embody company values.
The Perfect Words to Describe Your Company Culture
Coming up with the perfect words to describe your unique company culture isn’t easy. Don’t worry, though — the Culture Partners team has put together this comprehensive list of words you can use while writing your vision or mission statement. You should ideally try to integrate these words into any conversation you have about your company’s vision and mission — whether you’re talking with an employee, an external stakeholder, a customer, or a friend.
Innovative
An innovative workplace thrives on creativity and thinking outside the box. The word “innovative” embodies experimentation and risk-taking. In an innovative company culture, failures should be viewed as stepping stones to progress. It should make your employees feel empowered and motivated to give their best performance every single day.
Collaborative
In a collaborative workplace environment, teamwork reigns supreme. Employees will feel comfortable with openly exchanging ideas and will often collaborate closely to accomplish their shared goals. Collaboration not only improves productivity but also ensures that every employee is contributing significantly to the company’s goals.
Trusting
Trust is super important. Employers who exhibit trust in their employees’ capabilities to execute tasks proficiently are much more likely to be successful in the long run, since trust makes for a healthy company culture and work environment.
Learning
A culture of continuous learning is what helps employees grow — both professionally and personally. This type of environment creates a workforce that is not only happier but also more engaged (i.e. your team members will be armed with the necessary competencies to help the organization thrive).
Balanced
Employees need to have a healthy work-life balance if they’re going to keep performing at their best. Using the word “balance” to describe your company culture will help your employees feel like they’re allowed to dedicate themselves to their work while also savoring their time and protecting their mental health.
Positive
It’s always best to maintain a positive culture, even while dealing with challenges. Using the word “positive” to describe your company culture will help your employees understand the importance of maintaining a positive outlook on things. It places an emphasis on optimism and progress rather than pessimism and giving up.
Entrepreneurial
Employees with an entrepreneurial mindset will be more likely to take ownership of their responsibilities. They’re easily able to align their actions with the company’s vision. Using this word to describe your company’s culture is a great way to keep things running smoothly and make sure that everyone’s on the same page.
Autonomous
An autonomous company culture empowers employees to make independent decisions. By not micromanaging your employees, you’ll be able to create an environment that’s conducive to employee empowerment. The more empowered an employee feels, the more motivated they’ll be to work towards making a positive impact while achieving the company’s goals.
Inclusive
An inclusive culture celebrates diversity and creates a sense of belonging among all team members. By using this word to describe your company culture, you’ll be acknowledging the importance of having different perspectives in the workplace. If you’re going to use this word, you may want to implement DEI workshops in your workplace, too!
Healthy
Your employees want to feel like you truly care about them. When leaders use “healthy” to describe their company culture, it implies that there are systems in place that nurture employees’ mental and emotional well-being. If you’re going to use this word, you should probably make sure to implement such systems to create this type of culture.
Fun
The word “fun” isn’t usually associated with work, but work can be fun. We promise! It is what you make it, right? A fun workplace is meant to blend employee productivity with enjoyment. If you use the word “fun” to describe your company culture, your employees will be more likely to maintain a positive attitude, even when dealing with challenges.
Rewarding
It’s very important to acknowledge and reward your employees’ accomplishments. This is going to be one of the best ways to elevate employee morale and motivation. Using this word to describe your company culture will make your employees feel like they’re working towards something worthwhile (i.e. their professional development).
Welcoming
During the onboarding process, the last thing you want to do is give your new employees the cold shoulder. You should try to make your work environment as welcoming as possible. This will help to make your new employees feel welcomed and valued right away.
Relaxed
Workplaces don’t always have to be stiff and serious! Sometimes, the best type of company culture is one that’s relaxed and laid-back. As long as tasks are completed on time and with quality, most employers will be open to creating a more relaxed work environment. If this sounds like you, you may want to consider it.
Understanding
Showing empathy shouldn’t be difficult, but it can make a big difference. In a culture of understanding, managers are attentive to employees’ feelings and engage in open conversations with them pretty frequently. This empathetic approach is what allows managers to identify and address issues before they get worse.
How to Maintain a Positive, Collaborative, Fun, Rewarding Company Culture
If you’re unsure about your workplace culture, try to see it from an employee’s perspective. Ask questions like “Do you feel comfortable sharing ideas?” and listen to the answers. Cultural change needs to begin with leadership and takes time to develop. That said, with proper management, a positive work culture can help your workplace thrive.
Cultural transformation doesn’t happen overnight; it requires constant effort and commitment from the company’s leadership team. It’s not just about introducing new policies or initiatives. It’s also about creating a fundamental shift in employee mindset and behaviors. Leaders must lead by example, and demonstrate the values and behaviors they expect from their employees. They also need to communicate openly and transparently — otherwise, they’ll never truly understand what their employees need.
While cultural change can be challenging, it presents an opportunity for growth. By creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture, you’ll be able to increase employee satisfaction, improve productivity, and drive innovation. It’s going to require patience, persistence, and, most importantly, commitment, but it’ll be well worth it in the end!
Let Us Help You Build Your Company Culture
When it comes to writing a vision or mission statement (or describing your company’s culture in general), you may not have a way with words. That’s why we’ve provided you with some words to get you started when it comes to communicating your company culture to others in a way that’s easy to understand.
Whether you need help writing a mission statement or simply want to improve your company culture, we’ve got you covered. At Culture Partners, we understand that developing and building the perfect company culture can be difficult. That’s why we’re here to help!
Feel free to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced senior partners. Just let us know what you need help with — whether it be elevating accountability, improving employee motivation, or building a more positive company culture.