5 reasons for an open corporate culture
It's an old saying: if employees feel good in their workplace, this also has a positive effect on the company's success in the long term. Five reasons speak for this.
Young companies in particular focus on a positive and open corporate culture. For them, clear corporate values, flat hierarchies, a culture of appreciation and trust, but also a sense of community and room for flexibility and creativity are important cornerstones of their organizational culture.
Matthias Höfer, expert for HR digitization and transformation, is sure that a positive and open corporate culture pays off for every company and knows five good reasons for this:
- More room for innovation
An open and positive corporate culture promotes the innovative power of companies. Employees who feel comfortable, who share the company's values and who have the opportunity to express their own opinions are much more likely to contribute new ideas and suggestions for improvement. A company that actively encourages its employees to be creative and takes away their fear of failure taps into great innovation potential.
- More agile and adaptable
Today's working world is subject to permanent change and competitive pressure. At the same time, globalization and digitalization are causing ever faster changes to which companies must react flexibly. Long-term planning is often no longer possible in an increasingly uncertain, complex and ambiguous world. This is especially true in times of crisis. A corporate culture that is designed for flexibility and supports individual employees in the face of change helps to ensure that a company is much more likely to be able to respond to external influences.
- Employees who fit the company
When choosing an employer, applicants are paying more and more attention to a company's values and standards and comparing these with their own ideas. They are interested in how employees interact with each other, what drives and motivates the company, or how the future employer defines its success beyond the figures. Many applicants want flat hierarchies, an environment that enables innovation, but also collegial cohesion and the compatibility of work and family. They appreciate employers for whom the human factor is a central component of a good corporate culture.
A positive and open corporate culture is the decisive breeding ground for attracting the right employees. Because people who fit in with the company enjoy coming to work, are motivated and committed to their team. If the company's values coincide with the employee's ideas, this not only promotes his or her satisfaction, but is also the basis for long-term employee loyalty.
- Engaged and more productive
People who enjoy going to work are usually much more relaxed and goal-oriented. In an environment where you feel good, you not only work better, but also more effectively. If an employee identifies with his or her own company and stands behind the respective values and standards, he or she has a greater willingness to perform and is more productive. The feeling of being an important part of the company motivates them to contribute in a completely different way than if they see their job purely as a source of money.
- Promises more success in the market
The corporate culture is like the DNA of a company. It conveys its own self-image to the outside world and reflects this both to the market and to its own employees. Transparency, authenticity and character not only appeal positively to employees, but also to customers. A personal, appreciative and open environment, which includes topics such as diversity and inclusion, is perceived positively both internally and externally. A positive and open corporate culture promises satisfied employees and customers in the long term.
Conclusion
Companies that maintain and live a positive and open corporate culture are generally more competitive, innovative and generally more productive. Satisfied employees ensure satisfied customers, who in turn guarantee the success of a company. Apart from that, a positive, clearly defined corporate culture contributes to more stability and innovation as well as improved crisis management.
To the author: Matthias Höfer is the managing director of CLEVIS GmbH