Culture is key to business growth and survival Does your organisation have one?

Written by Popyeni Kaxuxwena

While organisational culture is a term frequently mentioned and heard, many people still do not fully comprehend what it entails. To set the stage, let’s consider this definition from a respected scholar: “Culture is the total accumulation of beliefs, norms, activities, and communication patterns of an identifiable group of people.”

Simply defined, it is a way of doing things for a specific group of people. We also see a convergence of rules and regulations, which are used to identify the acceptable norms of behavior and shared beliefs within a group of people. The marriage of the two words, organisation and culture, allows us to identify the type of environment in which employees work. Organisational culture is the way people work together, cohabit, dress, their use of language, and, most importantly, how they execute tasks to achieve the organisation’s vision.

My first job in the 90s was as a waiter in a restaurant, which had a culture that was so distinct that even as a customer, one could recognise it. Windhoek had three well-known restaurants in the 90s, namely Grand Canyon Spur, Saddles, and Mikes Kitchen. Each of them were known for a specific type of food: Spur for spur ribs, Saddles for burgers, and Mike’s Kitchen for milkshakes.

The cultures of each of these establishments were intriguing. From my work experience at Spur, the culture was easily visible. From the interior design in the style of a native American tribe, to the dress code of the waiters and, even how they greeted you at the door. Anyone coming into Spur had the same experience; young and vibrant waiters and waitresses, welcoming smiles, and a clown holding balloons to further excite the kids as they walk in with their parents. As a new employee, you had to adopt these characteristics in order to become part of the group. All of these traits make up what we call organisational culture.

Sadly, I have worked for companies where most people don’t know what the organisational culture is. In fact, asking them about work culture is like asking someone who studied in the social field to take a physics exam.

Knowing and understanding the organisational culture allows employees to align themselves with the organisation’s vision and mission. When a company does not embed the organisational culture during onboarding, an employee is likely to be uncertain about the acceptable behavior and norms. The organisation’s core values should outline how things should be done.

Let’s explore three practical approaches to help you foster a meaningful culture within your organisation.

Dress code

Everything revolves around presentation. The image of employees’ should align with the target clientele. An example would be formal wear Monday through Thursday, followed by jeans and company-branded t-shirts on Fridays, or African wear on the last Friday of each month. At work, sandals and shorts are normally not allowed. This of course dependents on the type of industry.

Visible core values

Make the organisational values visible. Ensure that each employee understands and lives by the organisation’s core values. It is not about imitating what everyone else is doing, but truly embodying the organisation’s values.

Onboarding made easy

Make the onboarding process enjoyable. Reduce the stress of the new employee, who has just completed the often-tedious journey of job searching and interview preparation, by guiding them through the onboarding process with enthusiasm. The onboarding process is a great opportunity to introduce and model the organisational culture.

There are many more ways to help your organisation create and embed a unique culture. The true measure of success lies in your ability to boldly, and with unwavering clarity, declare your answer to the fundamental question: “What defines your work culture?” Perhaps the reason why, from the three restaurants, only Spur is still open today boils down to that very question.

#LetsWork

Popyeni Kaxuxwena is the author of the book ‘Let’s Work’ Growing beyond a job description. He is also a keynote speaker on work ethics and a training facilitator at Let’s Work Commercial Group cc. You can reach him via email: popyeni@letswork-cg.com