What “Best Places to Work” Lists Don’t Tell Us
Companies focus on making their workplace attractive to talent, but it takes more for corporate culture to drive true business growth
A large tech client was recently named a top Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For. It was a cause for celebration - employees had taken the survey and identified an engaging, transparent environment they loved working in. And for good reason - the company offers ongoing feedback mechanisms, flexible work policies, and generous employee wellness and family medical leave. They tout their award-winning culture and successfully attract top talent in the industry.
Yet here’s what the survey didn’t reveal:
“Every-cook-in-the-kitchen” processes that required cross-functional input to the point that making decisions was nearly impossible, strategic plans were watered down, and execution was painfully slow.
Well defined and socialized corporate values that every employee could recite - but that were rarely put into practice.
Norms that rewarded long, convoluted strategy documents over concise, clear strategic plans.
Millions spent on agencies and consultants, with few business results to show for it.
Slipping market share as more nimble competitors drove industry innovation.
Employees generally liked working at the company. Good benefits, flexible policies, and a prestigious consumer brand allowed the company to attract and retain great talent. But while the company was a “great company to work for,” it was not a “great company for getting work done.”
Corporate culture and employee engagement initiatives often focus on employee benefits and team bonding initiatives. That’s important. But attracting and retaining talent is only part of the equation for powerful corporate culture. The other part is performance behavior - building a culture that develops norms and habits that drive productivity, innovation, coordination, and creative problem-solving:
Attraction + Engagement + Performance Behavior = Growth Culture
Growth Culture is more than the “great culture” measured in best-places-to-work lists. It drives profit, innovation, and business growth. And when employees feel its impact, they’re even more likely to stick around and do their best work. When companies focus on building a Growth Culture, they can be a great company to work for, and a great company for getting work done to boot.