4 Distinct Corporate Cultures and Why It Matters

Culture fit. What does that mean? At the end of the day, it’s the defining characteristics of a company and the established workplace environment. It’s the overall beliefs, attitudes and assumptions that the workplace employees share. Being a culture fit is almost as important as the skill sets employees bring to the table.

As recruiters, we’re privileged to have the inside scoop on what the workplace culture looks like. We’re given the tools necessary to engage the right candidate for the right company. While an office culture can be easy to define, it rarely stops with a description on a piece of paper. It’s a feeling, an instinct, an impression. This is important for both parties to keep in mind. Communication, like in any relationship, is a key factor in determining the right match. Both parties must provide feedback on whether it was love at first sight or if we should swipe left.

Why are workplace cultures important? What do they provide to the employees? What do they provide the employers?

A Sense of Belonging:

For the employee, the workplace should provide a comfortable home and a sense of belonging during your workday. A combination of similar values and consistent perspectives create a dynamic that keeps you going back. The culture helps shape the relationships and processes that attribute to a healthy environment and successful performance.

Cohesiveness, Structure and Success:

The bottom line – a HEALTHY workplace culture attracts good talent. Employers need to understand that candidates will evaluate the organization and its climate before committing. A strong, positive, clearly-defined and well-communicated culture attracts top talent and drives engagement and retention. How your employees interact and engage with each other effects both their performance and your organization’s success.

It’s also important to realize that as an employer adds new team members, there are norms or unspoken/unwritten rules that aren’t realized by the new employees yet. It’s important for the current employees to appreciate that the ripple is usually short lived. Engaging new employees and helping them understand the dynamic is important to the success of the new employee and the team. Embrace the new member… Their energy could bring something new and valuable to the existing culture.

Just for fun. There are four Distinct Types of Corporate Culture. See if you can match each type with their definition:

Cultures: 

1) Clan Culture
2) Adhocracy Culture
3) Market Culture
4) Hierarchy Culture

Descriptions: 

A) This culture is a culture in which the goal is to get down to business, get work done, and achieve results. This is often a competitive environment, even among coworkers. The purpose of being at work in a company with this type of culture is to make as much profit and capture as much market share as possible. Amazon is a great example of this type of company, and Jeff Bezos is known as being a demanding taskmaster. Apple, under Steve Jobs’ reign, is another example.

B) These cultures have a friendly, collaborative culture and can be compared to a large family where people have a lot in common. Strong bonds of loyalty, tradition, and commonality generally form. Examples of companies that may have a clan culture include Google, Zappos, or Tom’s of Maine.

C) Process and procedure are everything in this culture. Leaders are there to monitor and facilitate adherence to tried and true ways of doing business. Costs and mistakes are kept low by following the rules and the guidelines that have gotten the business this far in the first place. Government organizations are good examples of this type of culture, as are organizations where safety is a primary concern—health care and aviation, for example.

D) This is a dynamic and innovative environment where employees are willing to take chances and leaders are typically seen as inspirational innovators willing to challenge assumptions and take risks. Core values reflect change and agility—this is not the type of culture where employees are likely to hear, “We tried that already, and it didn’t work.” Think Facebook and any variety of tech companies that must stay nimble and innovative to remain competitive.

Answers:

1) Clan Culture: B
2) Adhocracy Culture: D
3) Market Culture: A
4) Hierarchy Culture: C

At the end of the day, culture fit is a defining criterion that must be met for a successful marriage to exist between employer and employee. Employers must recognize how important it is to define and create an environment that breeds comradery and cohesiveness. Candidates must recognize the importance and realize that sometimes it’s better to walk away from an awkward first date in order to meet the one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Megan Weston, Senior Accounting Recruiter