Unravel Your Corporate Culture

by Lynn Taylor
Founder and CEO, Lynn Taylor Consulting

Corporate culture is a mysterious term that every employee can describe, but it’s different at every company, and different for every person.

One thing most will agree upon, however, is that it matters.

Why is corporate culture such an important factor of career life? Because it has nothing to do with what you studied, your technical skills, your job history, your most notable accomplishments, or your great business contacts. But it has everything to do with your success at your job.

So how do you embrace your own individualism, yet thrive in the corporate culture you’ve stepped into when you accepted the offer at your company? If you’re between jobs, it’s worth thinking about early, even during the interview process. Discusing “life at the company” is one of the smartest moves you will make before you start a new job.

Assuming you’re already at the company, and you’re trying to accelerate your advancement, you might start to think about how being more savvy about your corporate culture can help you succeed. Consider your day-to-day work life. What are the work hours you and your superiors expect? Drill down to basics like lunch hours or the ideal times to arrive and leave work. When are vacations best taken and how much advance notice does management prefer? Consideration and communication go hand in hand here. It’s better to discuss openly what is expected (and preferred) and what isn’t, rather than guess.

Chances are your boss will not sit down and have a chat with you about corporate culture out of the blue unless you do something egregious. So start taking mental notes, or just ask. It’s never too late to have an open, honest discussion, in a relaxed setting – perhaps over lunch – about the finer points of work life. You might start out by saying, “I noticed it’s been tougher to reach you lately. But you did get back to me quickly yesterday when I sent you that one-line e-mail.” Or, “It seems like you prefer morning meetings lately,” and so on.

At some companies, there are changes in certain protocols, and they can follow along with changing technology. Text messages may be great for your boss, but you may be the last to know unless you ask your peers. Others may want a note or voice mail for big news so it’s not lost in the e-mail flurry. What’s the etiquette of dress code in your department, not just the company? Who should be cc’d on e-mails, and who should be invited to “pre-meeting” meetings?

It’s the little, unspoken things that can impress – or irritate – managers, so take proactive steps. Unravel the corporate culture mystery…and get ahead of the pack!