Cultural Signals for a High-Performing Organization

Companies on Fortune's annual '100 Best Companies to Work For' list often outperform their peers, boasting higher average annual returns and impressive cumulative returns compared to the broader market indices. This isn't mere coincidence; it's a testament to the tangible impact of a strong organizational culture.

Yet, despite its significance, maintaining a healthy culture isn't always straightforward. You may be attuned to certain signals indicating that your organization's culture is under strain. Perhaps you've noticed a decline in accountability, with team members failing to deliver on their commitments. Maybe there's a pervasive sense of stagnation, where despite efforts to improve performance, results remain elusive. Or, it could be that excuses and blame-shifting have become commonplace, hindering growth and progress.

These signals are not to be overlooked. In fact, they serve as early warning signs, alerting you to potential risks in achieving your strategic objectives or, worse, threatening the long-term viability of your organization.

So, what can you do? You can start by understanding your underlying cultural tendencies. From there, you can put in place practical actions to shift behaviors and organizational ways of working. Below, we share a few culture signals that can help you gauge the health and trajectory of your organization's culture.