Company culture is the heartbeat of any organization. It shapes values, influences growth, and either propels your business forward or holds it back significantly. Unfortunately, there are many common myths that can sidetrack even the most experienced CEO or HR Director from creating a positive work environment for their employees. From claims that “culture change is too difficult" to “culture will naturally change on its own”, the truth behind these misconceptions must be understood for organizational success if you want your organizations to thrive in a competitive landscape. In this article, we'll address the top 5 myths to separate fact from fiction when it comes to cultivating an ideal corporate culture.

Corporate Culture Myth 1: Corporate Culture Doesn’t Matter

A great corporate culture can have numerous benefits for your business. For starters, it can help boost morale among employees and improve job satisfaction. This in turn leads to greater productivity and better quality work output. Additionally, a strong company culture gives your company a competitive advantage when recruiting top talent – people want to work for companies with great cultures! Finally, studies have shown that companies with a positive workplace culture also tend to perform 4 x better financially than those without one. (View the stats here!)

Corporate Culture Myth 2: Workplace Culture Is Costly To Create

Workplace culture is essential for business success and shouldn’t be considered optional; especially in today’s ever-changing competitive landscape. Yes, upfront you will need to invest in a strategic culture shift program, however, over time, that investment will reap massive benefits… from higher profits, productivity, and engagement. (Learn more here!) 

Corporate Culture Myth 3: We Can Change Our Company Culture Overnight

Changing your company culture is not a sprint; it's a marathon. It takes time and effort to cultivate a new culture, and it’s not something that can be changed quickly or easily; rather, it's a gradual process that requires careful and intentional adjustments. New policies and procedures may be implemented more quickly, but changing a culture is about changing the hearts and minds of the people within it. And that takes time. So stay focused, be patient, and keep working towards creating the kind of culture that will set your organization apart.

Corporate Culture Myth 4: Put The Right People In Place And Business Culture Will Naturally Change On Its Own. 

Have you ever heard the saying "putting the cart before the horse"? Well, that's exactly what this corporate culture myth is doing. It assumes that simply bringing in the right people will magically transform your company culture, but that's not how it works. Think of it this way: would you expect a garden to flourish if you planted the right seeds but didn't provide the right soil, water, and sunlight? Of course not! It's not enough to just hire the "right" people and hope for the best. (After all, ‘hope’ is not a strategy.) The best employees won't thrive if the company culture doesn't provide the right environment for them to grow and flourish. So, let's stop perpetuating this myth and start taking action to create a thriving company culture. 

Corporate Culture Myth 5: I Don’t Need To Be Involved In Changing Company Culture

Buckle up, folks! We're about to debunk another corporate culture myth that's about as true as a unicorn sighting. Not being involved in the change of company culture is like being on a sinking ship and thinking that just because you're not the captain, you don't need to help bail out the water. Everyone on the ship has a role to play in keeping it afloat, and the same goes for company culture. We all have a responsibility to help create a positive and productive environment. And let's not forget that company culture is contagious. It's like a virus that spreads from person to person. If you're not actively working to create a positive culture, you're inadvertently contributing to a negative one. Do you really want to be responsible for infecting your coworkers with a bad attitude?

How We Can Help...

Company culture is our top priority. In our flagship Leadership & Culture Shift program, we help companies build a more attractive culture, and shift from a toxic culture to a purpose-driven one. We have a 4 Step Process that positions your company for higher levels of purpose, performance, growth & impact, so you can finally have a workplace that people love. Contact us to learn more!

Here’s to creating your Culture Shift!

Betsy Allen-Manning | Founder & CEO, Corporate Culture Training Solutions