In many businesses, success is often attributed to strategies, performance stats and sales.
Yet, a hidden force silently, yet powerfully shapes the destiny and future of many organisations – company culture.
It's more than just a buzzword; it's the DNA that defines how employees think, work, interact and even perceive you as the employer.
Here at SPS International, we’re happy to announce we’ve recently won The People’s Platform Culture Award. As such, we’re proud to share our thoughts on what makes company culture great and what makes it so important here at SPS International.
What is Company Culture?
At its core, company culture is the set of shared values, beliefs, behaviours, and attitudes that shape the way employees interact within an organisation.
At SPS, these are all things we aim to instil in everything we do, so we can rest assured all of our employees are on the same page, and we’re working towards a common goal as a team.
It's the collective personality of our company, influencing the way decisions we make, work is conducted, and relationships are created and nurtured. We think our culture has contributed massively to our success and the overall team enjoyment of the work we do.
Examples of Company Culture
Business cultures come in various shades and each is likely to be unique as they, by nature, reflect the different priorities and values of each organisation and the people within them. Here are some common types of company cultures you might recognise or relate to. You might find that you see one as suiting your organisation well, or maybe you’ve got a mix of a few different cultures.
As long as you’re certain your culture revolves around supporting your staff and showcasing how you care for them, their input and their wellbeing, you’re on the right track. Let’s take a closer look:
Innovative Culture: In organisations with an innovative culture, creativity and experimentation are celebrated. Employees are encouraged to think outside the box, leading to new ideas, products, and processes.
Collaborative Culture: Collaboration and communication is a huge part of creating a strong company culture. Teams work closely together, share ideas openly, and build strong relationships, resulting in a sense of unity and joint achievement across all levels.
Open Door Culture: Organisations who encourage their leadership teams to have an open door policy create a sense of openness and caring that extends through all levels of the business. It ensures your senior leaders are approachable, and allows relationships to build throughout the organisation.
Adaptive Culture: An adaptive culture allows your business to embrace change. While some organisations may be daunted by change, a mindset shift from the top down can frame this as a positive thing. They view challenges as opportunities and are flexible in adapting to new market conditions or trends.
How Can it Impact Your Business?
The influence of company culture extends far beyond the walls of the office.
Within our day-to-day business, we’ve seen a huge amount of benefit in creating a strong company culture that makes our employees feel valued and appreciated, makes our work something we can all be proud of and allows for new ideas and innovation.
We’ve provided a closer look at the impacts we’ve experienced from having a tangible company culture at SPS.
Employee Morale and Engagement: A positive and inclusive culture boosts employee morale, leading to higher levels of job satisfaction and engagement. When employees feel valued and connected, they are more likely to be productive and committed. A quote from Maria Edwards, Delivery Manager in our Nutrition and Health team highlights this:
“I’m very proud to work for a company that puts its employees first and how, no matter the growth or size of the company, it still retains the personal, family feel where every employee is important and valued, and their personal development is prioritised.”
Talent Attraction and Retention: This is something we know a thing or two about at SPS. As we highlight to so many of our clients, a strong company culture is a magnet for top talent. Potential employees are drawn to organisations with values that align with their own, and once hired, they are more likely to stay if they feel they are a part of something meaningful.
Productivity and Performance: A culture that promotes open communication, collaboration, and autonomy can enhance productivity and performance. When employees feel empowered, they are more motivated to produce excellent work and feel supported enough to reach for those more ambitious goals.
Innovation: An welcoming culture where staff are valued creates a safe space for employees to think creatively and take calculated risks. This can lead to the development of groundbreaking ideas and solutions that drive the company forward.
Customer Experience: Happy, confident and fulfilled employees translates into better customer experiences. When employees are aligned with customer needs and feel passionate about their organisation, they are more likely to go the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction.
Company Reputation: Company culture contributes to your organisation's reputation in the market. A positive culture can enhance your brand image and attract customers, partners, and investors who share your values.
Nurturing and Shaping Company Culture
Creating a positive and impactful company culture requires conscious effort. It’s not something that happens overnight and, if you want to create something that really makes a difference to your employees life, it does take some work.
We recommend taking a look at the following if you’re interested in creating a positive culture in your workplace:
Define Core Values: Identify the values that reflect the essence of your organisation and ensure they are shared with everyone in your organisation to follow as a rule. These values should guide decision-making, behaviour, and interactions and are therefore extremely important.
Lead by Example: Leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping culture. Leaders should embody the values and behaviours they expect from employees and should strive to provide a welcoming environment for all staff.
Communication: Foster transparent and open communication at all levels of your organisation. Keep employees informed about company updates, successes, and challenges so everyone is in the loop at all times.
Employee Involvement: Involve employees in shaping the culture. Seek their input, ideas, and feedback to create a sense of ownership.
Training and Development: Provide training that aligns with the culture you're trying to create. This can include workshops on communication, teamwork, and leadership. With development at the forefront, you can even help boost retention.
Diversity and Inclusion: Promote diversity and inclusivity. A diverse workforce brings different perspectives that enrich the culture and drive innovation.
If you’d like to find out more about our award-winning culture here at SPS International, read our latest blog about celebrating culture.