10 Thought-Provoking Questions to Ask About Your Company Culture

As a business owner or manager, you’re always looking for ways to improve your operations and build a stronger, more effective team. One area that can be overlooked is your company culture. Your culture is the glue that holds your team together and determines how your employees interact with one another, as well as with your company’s customers and partners. To get a better sense of your company culture, here are ten thought-provoking questions to ask yourself and your colleagues.

1. What Are Our Core Values?

Your company’s core values are the principles that guide everything you do. Are they clear and well understood by all employees? Are they being actively reinforced in everything you do? Take stock of your core values and ensure everyone is on board.

2. Do We Have a Diversity and Inclusion Policy?

A diverse workforce is a more innovative and productive one. Do you have a formal policy in place to actively recruit and promote a diverse workforce? And is it being implemented across the organization?

3. How Do We Encourage Collaboration?

Collaboration is essential for a successful organization, but it doesn’t always come naturally. How are you promoting collaboration within your team and across the organization? Consider incentives, team-building events, and cross-functional projects.

4. How Do We Recognize and Reward Success?

Employees who feel valued are more loyal and engaged. Do you have a formal recognition and reward program in place? Is it tied to your core values and incentivizing the right behaviours?

5. Are We Investing in Employee Training and Development?

Employee training and development can have a significant impact on job satisfaction and retention. Are you investing in continuous learning opportunities, both for technical and soft skills? Consider mentorship, coaching programs and other growth initiatives.

6. How Do We Handle Conflict Resolution?

Conflict is inevitable in any organization. Do you have a formal process in place to handle conflicts between team members or with customers? Are you actively promoting open communication and a positive conflict resolution culture?

7. What Are Our Workplace Norms?

Your company’s workplace culture is heavily shaped by unspoken workplace norms. What norms have developed within your company around communication, work-life balance, and behaviour in the workplace? Are they promoting a positive culture?

8. What Is Our Approach to Work-Life Balance?

Employee burnout and turnover rates can be heavily influenced by an organization’s approach to work-life balance. Are you offering flexible schedules, remote work options, and other ways to help employees maintain a good work-life balance?

9. How Do We Get Employee Feedback?

Employee feedback is essential for measuring your company culture’s health and identifying areas for improvement. How are you gathering employee feedback, and how are you acting on it? Consider using anonymous surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one meetings.

10. Are We Fully Adapting to Remote Work?

Many organizations have had to adapt to remote work in the wake of the pandemic, but is your organization successfully adapting and thriving in these new work arrangements? Are employees feeling supported in their remote work environments, and are communication and collaboration processes optimized?

Conclusion

Your company culture has a huge impact on your organization’s success. By asking yourself and your colleagues these thought-provoking questions, you’ll have a better understanding of your culture and how to optimize it for success. Remember that company culture isn’t static; it will evolve over time, so keep asking these questions and checking in on your progress regularly.