(And maybe I really was snooty.)
A lot of people have asked me lately what Workplace Culture actually is. (Two people is a lot, okay?) Aren’t work environments virtually the same, they wonder? You go, you do you work, you go home?
Au contraire, I say. Every work environment is very different. I should know. I’ve experienced far too many. One of the reasons I hopped from job to job so much is because I was unable to find a suitable environment, even for jobs within the same industry. Sometimes this was because I tried desperately (and failed) to fit into cultures that don’t fit my natural work style. Other times the powers-that-be weren’t clear on what was expected, or advocated a style that opposed their actual practices.
Examples? Don’t mind if I do.
I waited tables at restaurant X for six months. During that time I was praised for my work ethic, attention to customers, and reliability. I was also told that promotions to night shifts (and more $$) were based on seniority. I waited patiently, and when I felt it was time I approached the managers about switching to nights. I was told I could not. Not because seniority was an issue, but because the night manager did not feel I was friendly enough to her.
The problem was, the only times our paths ever crossed were at the end of my day shifts when I was typically the last waitress on the floor, trying to cover all the tables at once and do my side-work. This didn’t leave ample time for chit chat, but I didn’t assume this was a problem, as I was attending the customers, which I saw as the ultimate goal. I was always friendly to the customers, many of whom overheard this comment and leapt to my defense, but apparently the small family-owned restaurant valued personal relationships between staff members far more than I had calculated. A waitress with a reputation for abandoning her tables to smoke with the kitchen staff for twenty minutes at a time was promoted instead.
This was not the only problem I had fitting in at restaurant X. The policies and procedures varied daily, according to which manager was on, the moods of the cooks, the type of patron, etc. etc. I grew frustrated with the constant guessing game and changing rules, but other staff members were pleased to go with the flow. I admit to losing my patience (not good, I’m not perfect!) and growing grouchy behind the scenes. I was not a pleasure to work with, and I realize now it was because I was desperately trying to fit into a mold that did not suite my natural inclinations toward order and process.
Additionally, we pooled tips, but I quickly found that my work ethic did not match those of my co-workers, and I felt that I was doing twice as much work for the same pay. I was always happy to take an extra large party or two, but it angered me watching the other waitresses lounge by the ice cube bins chatting while I took on extra tasks.
I parted ways amicably with the management staff, and soon found an alternative. Restaurant Y was so rigid in their policies that their company handbook included an illustration of where the trays were to be stored. I can not explain how much this delighted me. Waiters kept their own tips, meaning extra work I took on was monetarily rewarded. And while the workers and managers were friendly and fun, that took place in the lulls between tasks, not as a priority.
Needless to say, I fit in much better, and quickly excelled. It was the same exact job (waiting tables), but the environment of the workplace had a major effect on my performance and satisfaction. I stayed at that restaurant much longer than most of the staff, and left only when I was done waiting tables. I’d found a place that valued individual performance over teamwork, structure over flexibility, and tasks over fun.
This is why defining a workplace culture and identifying how it affects employees is important. It will attract workers who naturally fit in with the corporate atmosphere, and help retain the ones you have by giving them realistic expectations.
I’ve composed a series of articles to help you recognize and define the culture in your current workplace. Even if you think you know, you may be surprised by one or more categories, so be sure to check out each one. If you’re a worker, reading these articles may help you define the cultures in which you thrive, so that you can better access the opportunities that are best for you.
Enjoy!
