The key drivers of organizational culture.
There are two main schools of thought: those who believe that organizational culture is shaped from the top down, by the leadership team and its decisions and actions, and those who believe it is shaped from the bottom up, by the collective behavior and attitudes of employees.
The top-down approach emphasizes the importance of clear communication and alignment of values, goals, and expectations from the leadership team, which then filters down to the rest of the organization. This approach is effective in creating a strong and consistent culture, but it can be difficult to implement, especially in large organizations where cultural norms may vary from department to department.
On the other hand, the bottom-up approach focuses on the importance of creating an environment where employees feel empowered to contribute to the culture and make decisions that align with the company’s values. This approach is effective in fostering a sense of ownership and commitment among employees, but it can be challenging to maintain consistency and control, particularly in rapidly growing organizations.
The most effective approach to shaping organizational culture, however, is a combination of both top-down and bottom-up elements. Leaders must set clear expectations and communicate their vision for the organization, while also encouraging and empowering employees to contribute to the culture and make decisions that align with the company’s values. This requires a balance between structure and autonomy, and a commitment to continuous communication and feedback to ensure that the culture remains relevant and aligned with the organization’s goals.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
“Jody Ordioni is the author of “The Talent Brand.” In her role as Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Brandemix, she leads the firm in creating brand-aligned talent communications that connect employees to cultures, companies, and business goals. She engages with HR professionals and corporate teams on how to build and promote talent brands, and implement best-practice talent acquisition and engagement strategies across all media and platforms. She has been named a "recruitment thought leader to follow" and her mission is to integrate marketing, human resources, internal communications, and social media to foster a seamless brand experience through the employee lifecycle.”