Rewriting Your Workplace Culture

Mike Hayden

April 2, 2025

Rewriting Your Workplace Culture

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” But what does that really mean for a small business?

Culture isn’t just about ping pong tables, snacks in the breakroom, or having a cool mission statement on the wall. It’s the unspoken “way things work around here.” It’s how your team communicates, solves problems, and treats each other - especially when no one is looking.

And the truth is, every business already has a culture - but it’s not always intentional, and it’s not always positive. The good news? You can change it.

Here’s how small business leaders can identify, evaluate, and remake their company culture - without huge budgets or HR departments.

Step 1: Identify Your Current Culture 

You can’t change what you don’t understand.

Try this:

  • Conduct an anonymous team survey. Ask simple questions: How would you describe our workplace in three words? What do you like most? What frustrates you?

  • Observe behaviors. Are people collaborative or siloed? Do managers lead with empathy or fear? Are expectations clear?

  • Listen more. Encourage open conversations. Your best culture insights may come from informal chats.

Tool Tip: Use form tools like Jotform or Google Forms to quickly gather anonymous feedback.

Step 2: Define the Culture You Want

Once you know what you’ve got, define what you want.

Consider:

  • What values do you want to show up in daily decisions?

  • What kind of environment would attract and retain the right people?

  • How should your culture support your business goals?

Write a simple culture statement - not buzzwords, but real behaviors you want to see. For example: “We solve problems together. We speak respectfully - even when we disagree. We take ownership of our mistakes.”

Step 3: Remake Your Culture, One Action at a Time

Culture doesn’t shift through a memo - it changes through habits, reinforcement, and example.

Try these small, powerful moves:

  • Lead by example. Your attitude sets the tone. Show up consistently with the behaviors you want to see.

  • Celebrate the right things. Publicly acknowledge employees who reflect your values.

  • Build check-ins into your rhythm. Ask “How are things going for you?” and really listen.

  • Revisit policies. Are your time off, remote work, or performance review practices helping, or hurting, your culture?

  • Encourage peer recognition. Let your team highlight each other’s wins.

Remember: Culture is reinforced by what you tolerate. If someone consistently violates your core values, it erodes trust - even if they’re a high performer.

Final Thought

You don’t need a huge HR department to build a strong workplace culture - you just need clarity, consistency, and a willingness to listen and adjust. By taking small, intentional steps, you’ll shape a culture that inspires loyalty, boosts performance, and attracts the kind of people who’ll help your business grow.

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