DEIA | Culture Matters

Why do people show up for work each day to do a great job? What makes workers go above and beyond the call of duty? Of course, our “go-to” answer is exemplary leadership. While we still stand by that, let’s look at the bigger picture—a great culture. 

Culture is what it feels like to work where you work. It’s the glue that holds everything together, the silent code of conduct, how things “get done” rather than what “gets done,” and unconsciously learned organizational practices. According to McKinsey & Company’s February 2023 article, Culture: 4 keys to why it matters:

• Organizations with top-quartile cultures post a return to shareholders 60% higher than median organizations and 200% higher than those in the bottom quartile. 
• Products and services can be replicated. Culture cannot.
• Successful transformations happen in organizations with a healthy culture. 

To summarize, a Healthy Culture = High Performance + Competitive Edge + Successful Transformations.

How do you describe the culture in your organization? Do others define it in the same manner? Is it a healthy culture? These are essential questions to ask when working to foster a great organizational culture. Once it’s established and healthy, it’s vital to preserve it intentionally. What are some actions you can take to make it happen?

• Create culture stories – Reflective narratives to share the organization’s history, monumental moments, and critical decisions that made it what it is today. 
• Develop organizational rituals – Group events that have symbolic meaning to an organization, create connection, are recurrent, and are conducted the same way each time.
• Organize milestone celebrations – Motivational events that recognize an organization’s progress and acknowledge how employees contribute. These events can be internal or external. 

Here are a few helpful resources for organizational culture cultivation. 

• How organizational storytelling can capture and communicate culture, Lauryn Sargent, Fast Company, July 19, 2022
• 5 Powerful Ways Rituals Improve Corporate Culture, Sean Sweeney, Culture Wise March 2021
• The Importance of Celebrating Company Milestones, Milwaukee Courier, March 3, 2023 

Remember, a Healthy Culture = High Performance + Competitive Edge + Successful Transformations. Keep fostering healthy organizational cultures for the most optimal results. 

Sherrice Thomas 
Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access
SherriceThomas@columbus.org