131 words to describe your work culture (and why it matters)

What is work culture?

The way that a company's employees work together as a team to achieve a goal, inclusive of their attitudes and behaviors, is called work culture or company culture. Culture is in daily interactions. It can skew positively or negatively.

According to a 2022 MIT Sloan Management Review report, negative company culture is 10.4 times more likely to lead to an employee quitting. However, company culture is changeable when leaders take the time to assess problems within the culture and make necessary changes.

Why is company culture crucial?

A strong work culture is integral to performance, customer service, and employee retention. A company will perform better with employees who are happy to be at work and feel appreciated. People are willing to stay longer when the work culture is inclusive and rewarding. Higher morale increases productivity and efficiency, which will also enhance customer service.

Keys to building a compelling company culture

If your company's work culture could improve, here are four actions you can take immediately.

1. Start now: It doesn't matter how big or small your company is. The best time to start is now. Sometimes, leaders mistakenly believe that their organization isn’t large enough to worry about company culture, but that’s a misconception. For instance, it isn't the number of people that creates a toxic work environment—it’s the interactions between the people. If you’re looking for a place to start, try bringing your employees in to talk candidly about what is and isn’t working. Anonymous online surveys can also help people open up and be more forthcoming with sharing their opinions and feedback.
2. Find a goal: After a clear view of what is going well in the company and what is lacking, use that data to build the foundation for your new and improved workplace culture.

To understand boundaries and start working towards your goals, ask yourself:

How do you want your employees to feel daily? How would you want to feel? Which types of behaviors will be rewarded vs. reprimanded? 3. Model best behavior: Acting with integrity and avoiding hypocrisy helps build employee trust and fosters a healthy environment. Do your utmost to avoid a "do as I say, not as I do" mentality and model excellence. 4. Make progress measurable: Clarify your goals and ensure you continuously gather feedback to see what is going well and what isn't. Work culture isn’t static. It’s a living thing. Picture it like a garden that needs tending (including pulling a few weeds occasionally). Some common assessments used to measure company culture include retention rates, employee referrals, exit interviews, and balanced scorecards (BSCs).

Communication, goal-setting, mirroring the behavior you expect or hope for your employees, and beginning the process toward a better work culture are achievable. But it isn't a fast process or a one-time event. By working toward a better company culture, you ensure your company has the foundation for better customer service and employee retention.

67 positive words for work culture

Check out these sixty-seven positive descriptors that might apply to your organization’s culture:

1. Accepting
2. Accountable
3. Achievement-oriented
4. Adventurous
5. Agile
6. Appreciative
7. Autonomous
8. Balanced
9. Place of belonging
10. Caring
11. Change leaders
12. Collaborative
13. Compassionate
14. Connected
15. Creative
16. Curious
17. Customer-focused
18. Cutting-edge
19. Dignified
20. Diverse
21. Dynamic
22. Efficient
23. Empathetic
24. Empowered
25. Encouraging
26. Engaged
27. Entrepreneurial
28. Ethical
29. Fair
30. Feedback-rich
31. Flexible
32. Friendly
33. Fun
34. Goal-oriented
35. Harmonious
36. Honest
37. Inclusive
38. Innovative
39. Inspiring
40. Inviting
41. Kind
42. Learning
43. Motivating
44. Nimble
45. Nurturing
46. Open-minded
47. Passionate
48. People-focused
49. Positive
50. Principled
51. Productive
52. Progressive
53. Recognition
54. Resilient
55. Respectful
56. Results-driven
57. Rewarding
58. Solutions-driven
59. Stimulating
60. Strategic
61. Supportive
62. Transparent
63. Trusting
64. Values-oriented
65. Visionary
66. Virtuous
67. Welcoming

58 negative words for work culture

There are also descriptors of work culture with inherently negative connotations. These words may reflect undesirable work culture traits:

1. Abusive
2. Aimless
3. Antagonistic
4. Archaic
5. Arrogant
6. Belittling
7. Biased
8. Bitter
9. Boring
10. Bureaucratic
11. Chaotic
12. Cliquey
13. Combative
14. Controlling
15. Critical
16. Cutthroat
17. Dated
18. Deceitful
19. Demanding
20. Destructive
21. Discriminatory
22. Disrespectful
23. Expendable
24. Fearful
25. Frantic
26. Hostile
27. Incompetent
28. Inflexible
29. Intense
30. Intimidating
31. Isolating
32. Machiavellian
33. Micromanaged
34. Negative
35. On edge
36. Overworked
37. Pompous
38. Power-hungry
39. Restrictive
40. Rigid
41. Rigorous
42. Secretive
43. Siloed
44. Stagnant
45. Stressful
46. Toxic
47. Unappreciative
48. Unapproachable
49. Understaffed
50. Unethical
51. Unfair
52. Uninspiring
53. Unorganized
54. Unproductive
55. Unprofessional
56. Unsafe
57. Unsupportive
58. Volatile

Neutral or subjective words for work culture

Some words describing work culture can be neutral or subjective, depending on the context.

For instance, suppose your organization produces medical devices. In such a regulated industry, “structured” might be a positive and appropriate adjective. However, if you run a graphic design agency, “structured” might imply a lack of creative freedom.

Here are five more adjectives that might be neutral or very context-dependent

• Hierarchical
• Established
• Predictable
• Formal
• Traditional

What is a company culture statement?

Also known as "culture code," a company culture statement is a point of reference that captures various aspects of the organization’s culture. A company culture statement often includes its mission statement, company history, code of ethics, and other information.

Examples of company culture statements

Here are two culture statements from well-known global companies:

"Our mission is what drives us to do everything possible to expand human potential. We do that by creating groundbreaking sport innovations, by making our products more sustainable, by building a creative and diverse global team and by making a positive impact in communities where we live and work." — Nike

"All work and no play? No way! We come together at more than just meetings. In fact, there's a fun get-together on the calendar every month, including our annual Halloween bash and costume contest, and take your children to work day. Sometimes you can even catch a live band on the roof at our Hollywood headquarters." — Ticketmaster

Exploring the essence of your work culture and putting it into words is a cornerstone for success. Remember, a thriving work culture isn't just a reflection of your company; it's the heartbeat that propels it toward excellence and innovation.