Is your corporate culture unifying – or unintentionally divisive?

Before you answer, you should read this Harvard Business Review post by John Traphagan.

Most of us accept the common definition of “corporate culture” as a shared set of values, attitudes, standards and beliefs that characterize how a company’s employees and management interact and handle outside business transactions.

But, according to Traphagan, viewing culture as a unifying thing (albeit an intangible one) is neither accurate nor useful. He makes several arguments to support his position:

1. Culture isn’t merely a unifying force that brings people together; it’s also a tool people use to wield power and draw proverbial lines in the sand. As such, culture provides a basis upon which employees can contest or counter certain ideas or values – making culture as much about division as it is about unity.
2. Values that are presented as “commonly held” by members of an organization aren’t really all that common. What’s more, people may agree that a certain value is important, yet fundamentally disagree on what that value really means. For example, values like “freedom” or “hard work” or “social responsibility” are incredibly difficult to define – and even more difficult to garner unilateral support for.
3. Values espoused specifically to unite employees might not actually achieve their intended purpose. Research cited in the post indicates that, rather than making everyone feel included/appreciated, common values such as diversity can actually make people feel singled out or even threatened.

Could our Thinking About Corporate Culture be all Wrong?

To the extent we view it as a unifier, perhaps. Any attempt to unite employees with organizational culture is an act of power. Individuals will react to that exercise of authority differently, based upon how closely the espoused values align with their personal beliefs.

Looking for Ways to Improve Your Organizational Culture?

Read this earlier post on how to prevent negativity from undermining the success of your team. Then give our recruiting experts a call. We will quickly and cost-effectively refer candidates with the personality traits and soft skills to help you build a more positive culture. Contact our national employment agency today to get started.