Before we jump into discussing the aspects of culture that are so much more than pizza on Fridays, I need to make a clarifying statement on behalf of my entire team. Pizza on Fridays is a good thing, in fact, it is a great thing! So, if company culture is more than pizza on Fridays, then what is it? I truly believe that company culture is the DNA of who you are and how you do business.
When you start to look at who you are as a collective group you can start to better understand and define your company culture. You can also determine if that is what you want it to be. Are you patient, compassionate, collaborative, aggressive, passive? Are you an organization that analyzes thoroughly and proceeds cautiously or do you forge ahead with reckless abandon? I am not even here to argue right or wrong on these topics, but I will argue regardless, it is part of your company culture.
In addition, there is plenty to be said about the internal interactions. Is constructive criticism a normal part of your operation? Does your team humbly receive feedback, reflect on it and then take action to improve? Does everyone mind their own business knowing “a tiger doesn’t change its stripes, so why share feedback’? This is where I would argue that there is a right and wrong. A company culture that does not include a method of providing each other regular feedback is a culture that is missing out on its true potential. Feedback is the fertilizer to personal and professional growth and an environment where the fertilizer is frequently applied creates a dynamic culture of growth.
But company culture even goes as far as living out the core values of the company. Are the core values just posted on the wall, or are they truly lived out? Either way, it is indicative of the company culture. Are you a part of a company that goes above and beyond for both internal and external customers? Does this happen on a regular basis? What does this look like inside your organization? Inside our business, this is a regular occurrence. So much so, new team members tend to be in shock when they see the consistency of how much each person has the other person’s back and how dedicated each person is to go the extra mile to exceed a customer expectation. When you join our team, you know that is part of the company culture. Sure, some experience culture shock, but it is a welcome shock. When you see and experience this level of commitment and dedication, it far exceeds any sense of belonging and value that a slice of pizza could do on a Friday. In fact, it has such a significant impact, those on the outside tend to want to get in on the fun creating the magnet of attraction.
