Where has Company Culture Gone?

“Going to work” today is completely different than the not-so-distant past. Just a handful of months ago, we were figuring out the toughest problems of our businesses together in the same room. We were enjoying seasonal treats brought from home and shared with the office, and we were enjoying lunch meetings to connect with clients. Today, a typical day might look like answering emails in our pajamas while simultaneously helping a child with a Zoom call with their teacher.

Sadly, the camaraderie seems to have faded into the background and yet, it was this type of culture that helped make our jobs fun and helped get us through the work week. A company with a strong culture that aligns with its employees’ beliefs and attitudes will have happier employees who tend to go above and beyond and likely stay with the company for a long time. These happy workers correlate not only to a happy workplace, but one where the company can grow, prosper and bring financial success to company owners.

So, what happens to company culture now that our offices are strewn across home basements, kitchen tables or the lone desk on the 3rd floor? And how do you keep your work culture intact through the pandemic and adjust it to keep your company happy and successful?

Companies who entered the pandemic with a strong company culture will more than likely be resilient enough to adapt. Those with a weaker culture should use this disruption as an opportunity for growth and for leadership to establish more concrete, positive cultural habits.

Regardless of which scenario your company falls in, remote workers need the right tools to continue to grow or establish their company’s culture. First and foremost, communication is key. Since colleagues aren’t together, it’s even more important to discuss expectations, acceptable behavior and the plans for getting work done. When people are physically together, it’s easier to see an employee’s state of mind and if they are all working toward the common goal.

To create a culture that inspires, your team leaders need to:

- Ask all employees what they need to do their job, then provide it
- Reinforce behaviors that align with your culture
- Reward those for a job well-done
- Focus on what your employees are doing right and share it with everyone
- Ease apprehensions and share a story about a bright future

By promoting the behaviors of a strong company culture, you’ll keep the culture alive and growing, and employees will know they’re an important part of a job well done. Recognizing the importance of the extra work it will take to build the essence of teamwork for remote workers will pay off for both a healthy mindset of employees and the bottom line of the company’s financial health.