Organizational culture is defined by the shared assumptions, values, and beliefs that determine how the people within a particular organization perceive, think about, and react to each other and events.
Departments, colleges, and units at the University all have their own unique culture that is shaped by the function, the way people go about their work, and perceptions of where their department, college, or unit is. Learning about the culture within the first few weeks is often more important than learning about the job itself.
Why should I connect new employees to culture?
When it comes to learning about the organizational culture, an effective onboarding process is two-fold:
- it helps new employees learn the organizational culture and recognize the behaviors and outcomes that are rewarded and valued; and
- it is about the organization leveraging the new employee’s strengths.
By understanding the organizational culture, employees:
- recognize the unwritten rules and the truth about how things work in their department/college/unit; this does not mean that a new employee must conform to the culture within their organization, however having this knowledge will help them become more effective;
- learn both the positive and the challenging aspects of the organization’s culture;
- become productive and engaged, and are less likely to leave within the first few months.
AVOID
- Letting employees “run into” organizational culture.
- Testing new employees by asking them to handle situations without any guidance about the culture.
- Falling into the trap of a culture conversation that is disingenuous and consists of:
- corporate speak,
- lofty mission and vision statements
- strategic plans, or
- focus only on the positive/aspirational aspects of the culture.
This does not actually help new employees understand how things work and how to be successful and may only set them up for frustration later.
**Refer to the Conversation Guide for New Employees for additional ideas on conversation topics during a new employee's first year.