Strategic Culture

"The actions that achieve the Vision"

What is culture?

Company culture is the set of shared values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours that shape the way people work and interact within an organization. It influences the employee experience, productivity, and overall organization success. Company culture is reflected in many areas, including the work environment, organization values, and the way the company engages with its employees, customers, and community.

As a consultancy that specializes in culture and change management in Irish companies, we work with organizations to help them define their culture, assess their current culture, and design strategies to create a culture that supports their business goals. We believe that a strong culture is essential for organizational success, and it starts with understanding the needs and experiences of employees.

To achieve this, we conduct surveys and interviews to gather employee feedback and gain insights into their experiences at work, the company's values, and the interactions they have with their leaders. This information helps us identify areas for improvement and develop tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of each organization.

We understand that creating a positive company culture is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process. We work closely with our clients to ensure that they are equipped to sustain the culture changes they implement and continue to grow and evolve their culture as their business evolves.

If you have any questions about company culture and its importance to organizational success, feel free to ask.


"The future organization is continuously evolving, it is culture that drives that evolution". Paul Walsh

What role does culture play?

Company culture is the DNA of an organization, determining how people work together, what they believe in, and how they interact with each other and with customers. An organization's culture can make or break its success, as it affects employee engagement, retention, and productivity, as well as customer satisfaction and loyalty.

We believe that a strong culture is essential for organizational success. We work with Irish companies to define, assess, and design strategies to create a culture that supports their business goals. Furthermore, we know that a positive culture can attract and retain talent, foster innovation, and develop strong leaders, while a negative culture can lead to frustration, burnout, and turnover.

Moreover, we understand that culture is a complex and ongoing process, influenced by a range of factors, including leadership, communication, values, and norms. That's why we offer customized solutions to meet the specific needs of each organization, using a range of tools, such as employee surveys, focus groups, and assessments.

We believe that every aspect of the employee experience is shaped by organizational culture, from onboarding and training to performance management and career development. That's why we help our clients create a culture that fosters teamwork, communication, transparency, and accountability, while also valuing diversity, inclusion, and work-life balance.

While the term "organizational culture" has been around for over half a century, it has become increasingly important in today's global economy, where companies must navigate different cultures and workforces across borders and time zones. 

We believe that culture eats strategy for breakfast, and we work with Irish companies to create a culture that inspires great work, fosters innovation, and drives business success.


Building Culture

The culture of an organization is paramount to its success. It shapes the experience of employees, customers, and the community. The culture of a company is like the central nervous system that connects all aspects of the organization. Companies with great cultures have a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining talent, fostering innovation, developing strong leaders, and achieving ongoing success.

Employee surveys can provide insight into the state of the current culture. Great workplace cultures have employees who thrive, while poor workplace cultures result in frustration and employee turnover. Culture is responsible for inspiring great work and helping companies find business success. 

To improve company culture, organizations must start with their employees. The six essential elements of a great workplace culture are purpose, opportunity, success, appreciation, wellbeing, and leadership. These elements serve as talent magnets, drawing people to your organization and connecting them to meaningful work.

While culture may have originated with the founders, it is the leaders who carry on the culture. Leaders model the behaviour and expectations that are important to the organization. They communicate and demonstrate messages that reflect and influence the workplace culture.

Organizations must remember that culture is built through actions, not words. It is shaped by who they hire, promote, and retain. Culture extends past the onboarding process and is instilled in employees from their first interaction with the organization. Every interaction and communication reflects and reinforces the company culture.

Creating a culture starts by envisioning the beliefs and feelings that the organization wants to create. Every aspect of the employee experience must reflect that culture. This includes considering both on-site and remote workers. What employees see, feel, and do will be communicated to customers and the community. Building a strong culture goes beyond recruitment and marketing materials.

In conclusion, building a great culture is critical for organizational success. It attracts and retains talent, fosters innovation, develops strong leaders, and helps companies achieve ongoing success. Focusing on the six essential elements of a great workplace culture and aligning every aspect of the employee experience with the desired culture can lead to a culture that thrives.


The Importance of Culture

The importance of company culture cannot be overstated when it comes to the success of a business. For an organization to thrive, its employees must thrive first. A positive company culture plays a crucial role in shaping the employee experience, which in turn has a direct impact on the success of the business.

A company's culture encompasses all of its beliefs and behaviours, as defined not only by its vision and mission statements but also by other policies and activities, including remote work options, health and wellness programs, and employee interactions. It is important to note that employee happiness and motivation are shaped by the multitude of micro-experiences they encounter on a day-to-day basis. The working environment, communication practices, and manager relationships all play a significant role in how employees view their company. A strong culture promotes mental wellbeing and drives high-performance levels among employees.

However, building a strong corporate culture is not a simple matter of installing ping pong tables or providing pizza on Fridays. It requires planning and commitment, with a focus on creating a supportive and positive work environment that empowers employees to reach their full potential. The benefits of investing in a strong company culture are clear, with positive impacts on employee retention and turnover, innovation and productivity, employee engagement, and overall business performance.



Improving Culture

If you're looking to improve your company culture, a good place to start is by focusing on the six essential elements that employees say help them thrive at work: purpose, opportunity, success, appreciation, wellbeing, and leadership. These elements are known as "talent magnets" because they attract and connect people to your organization and inspire them to do meaningful work.

However, building a great company culture is not just about promoting these six elements. It's also about modelling the right behaviour and expectations as leaders of the organization. Culture is built through actions, not just words, and it's shaped by who you hire, promote, and keep in your organization.

Every conversation, email, and interaction that employees have with your organization reflects and reinforces your company culture. It's not just about what you say on your website or marketing materials, but how you treat your employees, customers, vendors, and partners. Transparent communication is also important in creating a positive culture.

To create a culture, start by envisioning the beliefs and feelings you want to create, and make sure every aspect of your employee experience reflects that culture. This includes both on-site and remote workers. What your people see, feel, and do will then be communicated out to your customers and the community. By focusing on building a positive culture, you can create an environment where employees thrive and contribute to the success of your organization.


Hiring For Culture

When hiring new employees, it's important to communicate your company values and beliefs during the interview process and give candidates the opportunity to ask questions. This will help you understand if their expectations align with your workplace culture, and if they will feel like part of the team.

While perks and benefits may attract employees, they don't necessarily keep them around in the long run. Even companies like Google, which offer some of the best perks and benefits in the industry, suffer from high turnover rates. That's because employee retention is more about culture than perks.

According to a 2020 Global Culture Report, 92% of employees describe their everyday experience as their employee experience. This means that they are more focused on the thousands of micro-experiences they have every day, like daily conversations, work environment, access to resources, and how they are treated by leaders.

Creating a workplace culture that's filled with positive micro-experiences is key to attracting and retaining employees. When employees feel valued and engaged, they will be more likely to remain with the organization and contribute to its success. Therefore, it's crucial to prioritize building a positive culture that aligns with your company values and beliefs, as this will ultimately determine the success of your organization.


Appreciation Culture

Expressing appreciation to employees is a vital tool for transforming workplace culture. It can connect employees and teams to their leaders and unify cultures in times of disruption and turmoil. According to a recent study by Deloitte, recognizing employees for good work is more motivating than paying them more. Peer-to-peer recognition, when enabled as part of an employee recognition program, provides positive benefits as well.

Celebrating years of service can also help employees feel valued for their dedication and loyalty. Consistent performance recognition can add 3.5 years to an employee's tenure, while effective career celebrations can extend employment by 2-4 years. Additionally, employees who are regularly acknowledged for good work are five times more likely to stay with a company. A simple "thank you" can help employees feel 116% more appreciated.

Incorporating appreciation and recognition into a company's culture can have a lasting impact. By recognizing the hard work of employees, companies can create a positive and fulfilling workplace culture that fosters engagement, productivity, and loyalty.


Creating a Dynamic Culture

Creating a positive workplace culture is critical for any company’s success, yet many organizations struggle with how to improve it. However, the good news is that culture is not static, and companies can actively take steps to improve and transform their culture. This requires a top-down commitment from the CEO and all leaders and employees. Here are some steps to take to improve your company culture:

Changing mindsets and culture will take time and effort, and it may take years to undo the challenges of a toxic company culture. However, even small improvements can have a significant impact. Make tools and resources available, train leaders, communicate regularly, and be consistent in your efforts to show employees that you are dedicated to creating a positive workplace culture. Remember that actions speak louder than words.