Creating an Effective Workplace Culture
Creating an Effective Workplace Culture
Organizations seeking to attract and retain exceptional employees understand that corporate culture has become an increasingly critical component of job satisfaction. In fact, a recent article in Forbes called 2022 the “year of workplace culture.” 1 An organization’s culture defines behavioral expectations within the company and is shaped by the values and structures that leaders establish and uphold.
Companies that apply a biblical worldview to their organizational culture focus on increasing human productivity, empowering people to become all that God created them to be. Such companies often seek to develop what we call a Covenantal Culture. A covenant is a binding agreement between two parties that is dependent upon the promise, ability, character, and integrity of the covenant maker to perform the action. This covenant is upheld regardless of the other party’s actions. It frames the relationship by setting rights and responsibilities. The company that builds a covenantal culture that creates an environment where people can flourish by defining the common values that underlie social contracts and creating the conditions necessary for free and responsible interactions.
In the workplace, a Covenantal Culture frames relationships, creates clarity, and establishes how business will be conducted. Matthew 20:25-28 establishes a biblical context for this idea:
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28, NIV)
A company built on a biblical worldview can implement Matthew 20:25-28 and create a Covenantal Culture, one in which organizational leaders agree ahead of time how they are going to conduct business. This means having in place, and practicing, the integration of the following principles:
- Organizational Clarity
When an organization has elements like a clear mission, role responsibilities, and communication structure in place, the environment is primed for employees to flourish.
- Leadership Clarity
Leaders who model the behavior described in Matthew, and who can cultivate those they manage to produce their best work, inspire trust and dedication that result in progressive change.
- Relational Clarity
Teams that understand how to interact effectively build healthy relationships that result in enhanced productivity.
Combined, these three elements promote a workplace culture that can attract and retain exceptional employees. (For a full discussion of each of these principles, read our Covenantal Culture white paper.)
Application
Here are some questions to consider as you reflect on how this information applies to your business
-How does your company bring clarity into its organizational design?
-How do you make sure this continues as the business grows?
-What leadership style does your company practice?
-Is this leadership style consistently modeled throughout the organization, and is it being replicated in the next generation of leaders?
-What relational principles has your company established?
-Are positive behaviors consistently rewarded and negative behaviors consistently not tolerated throughout the organization?
Blue Trust’s Business Consulting division leverages biblical wisdom and practical expertise to advise business owners as they seek to faithfully steward the companies with which they have been entrusted. To learn more about creating a Covenantal Culture at your organization, visit our website.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.