Each company has its own “culture” – the values and norms that define what is and isn’t appropriate behavior for the organization. Culture guides how you work, and a healthy one enables companies to attract and retain highly motivated employees and unite them around a common goal, purpose, or cause in pursuit of sustainable performance.
Is Your Corporate Culture Cultish?
Healthy company cultures build a sense of community, shared purpose, and collaboration among employees. But they also give people space to be individuals and encourage a life outside the company. Sometimes, however, the effort to create alignment around a shared vision goes too far, and the company starts to discourage individuality and involvement in life beyond the company. In these situations, where the company comes to resemble a religious cult, creativity and innovation are endangered and the company’s long term future is imperiled. Executives need to be on the watch for signals that this is happening – an abundance of company rituals, pep talks, and insider jargon are all potential signals that your company’s culture may be turning into a corporate cult.