Culture Makes a Workplace Great — or Intolerable [Video]

No matter how much experience a person has, there are always going to be times when work can be a struggle. Tight deadlines, unusual projects, and demanding clients can make for a bad day, or week, or more. But when you think about it, you have all the tools to succeed. A qualified employee can surpass any challenge. What can really spell trouble is a poor cultural fit.

PEOPLE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE WORK WE DO.

When it comes to happiness and success, the people you work with are more important than the work you do. Difficult people will always be the biggest hurdle, because people know how to do what they do. They don’t always know how to do it with other people, and they don’t always fit into every situation. That’s why it’s important to be careful where you work, and who you work with. Pay attention during the hiring process. Make note of cues that tell you what the culture is like. Do you feel like you’d fit in? If not, don’t push it. This might not be the place for you.

 But what about after you’ve already started? What if you’re already in a position where you don’t totally fit in? You’ll need to rely on your emotional intelligence to guide you. You can manage problems as they arise – and make sure you’re not causing them.

When you’re working with people, no matter what the situation, decide how you’re going to work together up front. Set defined roles for team members, and establish them in a way that emphasizes strengths and minimizes weaknesses. Work to trust your teammates, and their expertise. Make a decision early about how your team will make decisions, so you don’t get stuck in circular discussions – or worse, long and heated arguments.

When problems do arise, the answer is communication. Be honest with your teammates. Ask for what you need when you need it – don’t wait and try to go it alone, and end up doing substandard work. Talk to the person you need something from, rather than trying to go to someone else to complain. Triangulation (you might know it better as talking about people behind their backs) ruins trust. Don’t do it, and don’t accept it if you’re a supervisor. Going straight to the source is the simplest way to solve a problem, and causes the least amount of agitation and anger.

The values of your brand define the values of your culture.

Finding a culture where you fit in best is the shortest route to enjoyable and rewarding work. But even if it’s a natural fit, your emotional intelligence is still important as you work with others, collaborate, and build relationships. Focus on communication and understanding, and you can help build a work culture that breeds success – and happiness.