Is Workplace Culture a Myth?

At its core, workplace culture encompasses the values, beliefs, and behaviours that shape how employees interact and work together. Advocates argue that a strong culture can lead to happier employees, lower turnover, and better business results. But some critics aren’t buying it. They suggest that the rosy picture of workplace culture often obscures the gritty reality of office life, where rigid hierarchies, cumbersome processes, and the endless chase for profit dominate.

Is the idea of workplace culture just a façade? Is it a convenient story companies tell to mask underlying issues? This question invites us to look beyond the surface and explore whether culture genuinely drives success or if it’s just another corporate myth.

Join us as we explore the various perspectives and look at real working examples to unravel the complexities of defining and maintaining a cohesive workplace culture. We’ll examine whether it’s a genuine game-changer or simply a nice-sounding term with little substance.

Peter Swanson, Founder and Executive Chair of Intertronics, commented. “Culture is the consequence of a clear and well communicated business Vision, which includes Values. Culture is an outcome from that process. It might seem ‘mythical’ because it is very difficult to write down and codify – unlike the business Vision and Values which are definable, and which should be defined and written down for all businesses. Culture can develop under changing circumstances and people, but it is underpinned by rock solid and unwavering Vision and Values which completely inform it.

“I have just been interviewing a prospective employee, who asked what our culture is like. I always find it difficult as a business owner and leader to answer that question, because it has many answers. I usually point at our Vision board which is displayed around the premises, and say that our culture derives from that, our vision and values – but then suggest that the candidate ask also other team members what this means to them. Culture is ‘the way we do things around here’, the unwritten ground rules. Culture is often subconscious and ingrained in daily routines and interactions.

“Culture and leadership are inextricably linked, though. You must lead by example and keep everyone responsible for living your culture. I like to say that, as a leader, you must be aggressively authentic with your values and therefore your culture. Leading with culture may be one of the most powerful sources of viable competitive advantage left to you these days.

“I like this quote from Professor Richard Wilding OBE, Cranfield University, ‘Culture is what your people do in the absence of management and under pressure.’ It may be just one aspect of the organisation, or it could just be the organisation. In the end, a successful business is nothing more than the collective capacity of its people and culture to create value.”

Nicki Campling, Innovation & Operations Director at The Oxford Trust also said,

“Whilst workplace culture is key to a content and productive team, there will be times when the priority is challenged by overriding strategic operations. It is important that when this occurs employees fully understand why, which is when communication and transparency from leadership is vital to maintain consistency.

“Culture may often be perceived as a buzzword, however, is this because of a lack of what this actually means in reality? Every organisation will embed their own unique culture design structure with team understanding. This will sometimes resonate differently between individuals in the team, culture will mean more to some than others for a variety of reasons. Ultimately, although intangible and difficult to define, it’s effects on organisational success are significant.

“If a business has a robust, clear and readily understandable culture, various 

studies and papers show the following – 

• Culture is a real, influential component of organisational life
• Enhances employee engagement and job satisfaction
• Strong, positive culture often generates higher levels of performance and productivity
• Attracting and retaining talent, becoming more important to the next generations in decision making
• Positive internal culture can lead to better customer service and satisfaction outcomes
• Plays a vital element in shaping outcomes within an organisation”

Ian Mundy, Director at You Consultancy, adds. “No workplace culture is not a myth. Our brand (You), our values of listen, understand, action and achieve, along with our strapline of ‘it’s all about the people’, are relevant now more than ever before in ensuring that a workplace culture is ‘real’ and not just a façade for us and those we support.

“Having fair and robust HR policies to support employees and employers is only part of the equation. We strive to enable and empower everyone in our team so that they feel able to work to the best of their abilities while making a tangible difference to the consultancy on a day-to-day basis, but also, through working closely with our clients in reviewing and developing the right strategies and interventions that we can see are evidentially driving forwards a positive and cohesive workforce culture aligned to individual business successes.”

Final thoughts from Alexandra Rae

As we look deeper into workplace culture, it’s evident that while some aspects may seem intangible, the impact on organisational success is undeniable. Peter Swanson and Nicki Campling emphasize the importance of a well-articulated vision, values, and open communication, which guide daily interactions and ensure alignment even during strategic shifts. This mirrors our approach at Wise Investment, where like my fellow B4 members, we believe that true culture is reflected in the everyday actions and decisions of our team members.