Whether you work at a small startup or a booming legacy brand, company culture directly (and indirectly) affects everything from your everyday job performance to your overall quality of life. But why? What exactly does it mean when people talk about “culture fit” or “office culture”?
Sure, a company’s culture can be reflected in its more superficial offerings, like free lunches or employee discounts—but a truly healthy, positive company culture is rooted in something much deeper.
Talent retention speaks volumes about the quality of an organization’s culture. Organizations with good benefits, an appreciation for work-life balance, and a dedication to fostering a sense of belonging will entice employees to stay—and attract new talent too.
Leslie Tarnacki, SVP of Human Resources at WorkForce Software, describes a positive workplace culture as one that makes all involved feel empowered to do their jobs to the best of their abilities.
“A company has to have a culture of trust, a culture of empowerment,” she says. “One of the phrases that our CEO uses quite often is ‘Be the CEO of your own role,’ meaning, you know, manage yourself, manage your time, make decisions, take risks.”
In other words, micromanaging from upper management. And just as those employees are trusted to do their jobs well, management should also respect and allow their input on crucial aspects of the business.
