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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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 

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.  

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.

One of the best examples of a great work culture is Google. They are year-over-year winners of Comparably’s Best Company Culture Award (2023, 2022). Forbes recently unpacked 13 critical aspects of Google’s work culture that make them worthy, notably Flexibility, Freedom To Be Creative, Fun Environment, People And Their Expertise, Dog-Friendly, Shared Values, Innovation Trust, Alignment With Employees' Wants And Needs, Growth And Improvement Mindset, Focus On Employee Happiness, 'Radical Candor,' and Clarity of Purpose.

A good boss exhibits empathy, clear communication, and fair leadership. They empower employees, foster growth, and provide constructive feedback. A good work culture fosters respect, collaboration, and open dialogue. It encourages diversity, work-life balance, and recognition of individual contributions, ultimately promoting a thriving, motivated workforce.