How everyday interactions shape workplace culture

Workplace culture is the shared norms, values, and behaviors in an organization that reflect its core values and strategic direction. What can everyday interactions help you understand about how culture takes shape and how people behave at work? The lessons connect interactions with the patterns and standards that shape working life.

2 articles, 1 video, 1 book · about 41 min of reading and viewing

The reading path

1. Read
   workplace culture · Wikipedia · 27 min read

   Egan defined the workplace culture shadow side as "All those things that substantially and consistently affect the productivity and quality of the working life of a business, for better or worse, but which are not found on organization charts, in company manuals, or in the discussions that take place in formal meetings." In workplace culture, Irving Janis defined groupthink as "a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when the members' strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action." Even if group members have different ideas, they do not challenge the group. Workplace bullying occurs where employees of higher status are allowed to harass those of lower status. It generally requires support or at least forbearance from company leaders.

2. Read
   

   5: Organizational Culture · Business LibreTexts · 4 min read

   In workplace culture, unique individual traits and strategic hiring affect culture, while effective leadership establishes behavioral standards. Training and resources enhance employee satisfaction.

3. Watch
   

   Symbols, Values & Norms: Crash Course Sociology #10 · YouTube · 10 min watch

   The video explains the difference between material and non-material culture and covers symbols, values and beliefs, and norms. It explores the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and some of its problems, including how language influences culture.

4. Book
   

   The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups · Bookshop.org

   The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle identifies three skills for building cohesion and cooperation, and describes strategies for sparking collaboration, building trust, and reforming a toxic culture.

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