How Company Culture and Communication Impact Each Other in The Workplace

When teams communicate and collaborate effectively, shared goals and outcomes become the norm. In fact, according to a Deloitte survey, 88% of employees believe that a strong company culture is key to business success. 

But how exactly do company culture and communication impact each other in the workplace?

Well, company culture and communication depend on each other. Effective communication in the workplace can lead to a more productive and efficient organization. What’s more, employee satisfaction will be higher as people feel heard and are more aware of what is going on in their workplace environment. 

Similarly, your company culture will be influenced by the state of communications throughout your organization. 

In this article, we will delve deeper into how company culture and communication impact each other in the workplace, and explain tips on how you can create an inclusive company culture where communication is king. 

Defining company culture and communication 

Company culture can be likened to the personality of an organization. It is those shared norms, behaviors, values, and beliefs that make up your brand identity. How an organization crafts its culture is a multifaceted topic, but communication has a major part to play when it comes to building a company culture. 

Communication can be described as the exchange of information. There are many ways in which this can be done within your company, including:

• Verbal communication - the spoken word, including the various different languages and dialects
• Nonverbal communication - body language, facial expressions, gestures or sign language 
• Written communication - conveying meaning through the written word
• Digital communication - email, websites, text messages, online messaging apps and technology.

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The link between company culture and communication in your organization is extensive, and we will continue to explore these concepts throughout this article. 

How company culture and communication impact each other in the workplace

Now that we have defined company culture and communication, we can delve a little deeper into how exactly the two concepts impact each other in the workplace. 

How communication impacts company culture

Effective communication can have a huge impact on company culture. With effective communication, businesses can:

• Build rapport among all members of the team at all levels
• Foster a culture of teamwork and collaboration
• Convey clear messages around brand image, customer service and business strategy
• Create a more productive and efficient workplace 
• Increase employee morale 
• Reduce misunderstandings and conflict in the workplace 

How company culture impacts communication 

A major part of developing a strong company culture is a shared understanding of company policies, objectives, values and beliefs. In order to build a company culture, these need to be communicated effectively throughout all levels of the organization.

Employees feel more valued when they are involved in decision making and feel informed about company news and initiatives. Lack of communication is also likely to be cited as a problem when employees are faced with any organizational issue. 

Better communication therefore is strongly linked to company culture, as all members of the organization feel more informed, more motivated and more valued.

How better communication can build a strong company culture 

So, you understand that company culture and communion can impact each other in the workplace. But how can better communication help you to build a strong company culture? 

Here we will discuss four ways to improve your communication in order to build a strong company culture. 

1. Make better communication a top priority in your organization 

If you are hoping to build a strong company culture, your first step should be to prioritize better communication in your organization. Better communication begins with communicating in a way that best meets your employees needs and habits. 

Start simple by looking at your website. Do you have an intranet portal for your staff? Does it include all the information that your employees need to better communicate with each other and work more productively? Is the site’s domain relevant to your geography and easy for your employees to remember?

Next, find out the preferred communication methods of your employees. For example, your employees may want a daily or weekly communications email detailing important news or upcoming dates to be aware of.

Communicating with your team in the way that works best for them is a great way to build a strong company culture. Employees are aware of the key information they need to be able to do their job, and most importantly, feel valued and heard as an important member of the team. In this way, your communication and company culture become aligned. 

2. Seek regular feedback from your team 

One simple way to improve communication and build a strong company culture is to regularly seek feedback from your team. Be sure to celebrate positive feedback but also respond carefully to negative feedback. 

Employees will be able to give you valuable information about their experiences in the workplace, what they need from you and how they can be better supported to do their job effectively. 

You might ask employees to complete a survey specifically around company culture. In doing so, you get valuable insights into the reality of your company culture, rather than simply what you claim your company culture to be. 

Using this information, you can build trust with your employees, identifying their needs and strengthening your workplace culture. In fact, in a recent survey, leaders cited increased productivity and increased employee confidence as two of the top benefits of effective communication. 

3. Use digital technologies for effective communication 

Understanding your business needs as well as the needs of your employees, and leveraging digital technologies can make your communication more effective, boost workplace motivation and help to build a strong company culture. 

Nowadays, there are a multitude of digital technology solutions that can make your communication more effective. For businesses operating remotely or with a hybrid-working model, some of these digital technologies are essential. 

Whether your team has opportunities to connect in person, or communicate purely remotely, the right communication tools can make it easier for your team to connect and therefore improve the connection between your company culture and standard of your communication. 

4. Promote inclusion in the workplace 

Finally, we can’t discuss effective communication and company culture without mentioning inclusion. When building a strong company culture, it is essential that you are mindful of the cross-cultural relationships within the workplace. 

What do we mean by cross-cultural relationships? 

Well - it is highly likely that your workforce is made up of people from different backgrounds, cultures or even different countries. Being aware of the ways in which their culture impacts their communication style is key to promoting diversity and inclusion in your organization. 

For example, some workplace jokes might be deemed offensive in some cultures. The make-up of your workforce may even influence your communication style and will definitely impact your company culture. 

Some ways to ensure you consider cultural differences and promote inclusion are: 

• Be aware of your own cultural biases - avoid making assumptions and understand how your own cultural biases affect your communication style. 
• Take time to understand other cultures - learn about your team’s communication style, cultural norms and values.
• Be respectful - it goes without saying that learning about different cultural norms isn’t enough. Most importantly, you need to respect them.
• Be open to change - in order to build a strong company culture through better communication, you need to be open to changing the way you do things. Just because it’s the “way it’s always been done”, doesn’t mean it’s the only way. 

By making an effort to understand and respect the cultural differences in your organization, you can reduce misunderstandings, improve communications and build a strong company culture that celebrates and promotes diversity and inclusion. 

Final thoughts

It’s clear to see that company culture and communication hugely impact each other in the workplace. When your communication is effective and meets the needs of your employees, you naturally build a strong company culture. 

Ensuring your employees are well informed and have the communication tools they need to work effectively can boost productivity and improve employee engagement. 

Further to this, respecting cultural differences and seeking regular feedback from employees fosters a mutual trust and respect and goes a long way to building a strong company culture. 

Make better communication a priority in your organization to see a positive shift in your company culture.

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