10 Elements That Create the Best Workplace Culture For You…(Part 1)

…and how to identify them. This is part 1 of our exploration of this topic.

The path to the perfect career

Maybe can’t see the forest for the trees at the moment; so many issues at work, so many conflicting thoughts and emotions about our workplace. Hopefully this article will help you find a path to follow.

We’ve already looked at the concept of workplace culture and identified a checklist of 5 indicators that will help you evaluate whether an organisation‘s culture is right for you.

Career happiness depends so much on the culture within which you work, almost as much as the work itself.

Understanding yourself, first of all, is vital; unless you know you, what makes you tick, what inspires you etc, then it’ll be harder to pinpoint, not the sort of career, but rather the organisation that’s right for you.

Part of our expertise is working with you to help you know you.

So, armed with a sound and accurate self-knowledge, we can now examine 10 components of workplace culture that you should poking and probing to establish whether you’ll be happy working for the organisation you’re interviewing for (or currently working for!).

The pace of the organisation. It must have the right range e.g. at one of the scale it will be fast and decisive – at the other end relaxed and systematic.
The priority of your role. You need to get this element right; either you’ll be a goal achiever at one end of the scale whereas at the other end of the scale you’ll want to be working on immersive tasks.
The pay-off. This is important, and you’ll need to identify the area of this element where you get most satisfaction; is it in exercising control and achieving productivity? Or does it lie in working with precision and accuracy?
Play to your strengths. The organisation should offer opportunities for everybody to apply and develop their skills and strengths. What are your strengths? Is there the scale and scope for you to explore them within the organisation, whether they lie in leadership and pioneering, or motivation and persuasion skills. Perhaps you have a strength for listening and communication, or instead you’re systematic and able to plan well. Does the organisation support the exploration and development of these skills?
The workplace style must suit. Seeking out the right workplace conditions for you is key. If you’re an efficient and structured person or perhaps busy yet personable, do you have the room within the organisation to be yourself? You may have a formal and structured personality, again, are you able to be yourself, to grow and learn new strengths? Or do you have to fit into a pre-decided, inflexible mold?

In part 2 of this study, we’ll examine another 5 elements that will work to create the best workplace culture for us.

So far, however, how’s our workplace stacking up against these elements? Are we noticing that it falls short in some areas?

In your experience, what elements have aided or abetted your happiness at work? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook. And remember to follow us on Twitter!