Culture has always been important to business success but due to all of these changes creating a positive cohesive culture is now even more integral to it. Yet it’s often ignored (or pushed aside) at the detriment of business survival.

A positive cohesive workplace culture is not just a “nice-to-have” but a necessity for achieving success.

What does it mean to have a positive cohesive culture?

A positive cohesive culture is something that all businesses need to be working towards – creating a space where people feel valued, recognised and heard.

Achieving this is not easy. As humans, we are complex creatures all with different motivations, life experiences and ambitions.

Creating an environment where employees have purpose and contribute to the business with open communication – where trust, shared values, and strong team collaboration is encouraged and cultivated – is key. 

Employees should be empowered and enabled to upskill themselves and grow – both personally and professionally. 

At SANDBOX, we work hard as a team to understand each other and to ensure that no one is ever on their own, whether they are in the studio or working remotely. This creates a ‘one-team’ approach, sharing our skills and experiences across the business.

Practically, we achieve this via a ‘daily stand up (DSU)’, where for 10 minutes every morning the whole team share their day, workload, pinch points, issues and capacity.

Our weekly Wednesday team meeting works in a similar way too. The team share skills and project outcomes (the good, the bad and the ugly) so we can continually learn and grow as a team.

Working in an open plan studio helps as well – one that’s bright and light, with soft furnishings, plants and plenty of break out space.

But don’t just take my word for it. The SANDBOX team offered me some of their thoughts on our culture:

What are the business benefits to having a cohesive culture?

Employees who feel connected to their team and the organisation are more engaged and productive.

Cohesive cultures promote collaboration, lead to greater creativity and innovation.

It contributes to higher job satisfaction, which can increase retention and attract new talent.

Companies with a unified culture often enjoy a better reputation, which can be advantageous for brand image and customer relationships.

Creating a flexible and nurturing environment

Creating the right kind of culture for your organisation is not a one-size-fits-all approach. But there are some common areas that are key to getting this on the right track.

The rest is down to the kind of organisation you are – your business objectives and ambitions. To start making your culture more cohesive, here are a few thoughts/suggestions that may help:

It is important that the objectives, missions and values of the business are clear, so the team has clarity on where the business is going, and everyone can work together to achieve it. 

It is a good idea to encourage open communication so each team member, from Junior positions to Director level, feels comfortable sharing their opinions and ideas without ‘fear of judgement’.

And by making your working environment a place people want to spend time, encourage the team to take part in team-building activities, social events, and general banter – this will help stronger bonds to form between team members. 

A culture is an ever-evolving animal and has to be flexible to change and develop in a variety of circumstances. It requires nurturing and monitoring to ensure it is creating the right outcomes for the business.

Leading by example and with sincerity

Culture is unique to each organisation, it cannot be created as a process – it evolves, initially from the leaders of an organisation. 

‘Leaders’ set the tone and influence by example. Good leaders demonstrate empathy and understanding to their teams, generating feelings of value and being understood. 

Culture has to come from how you genuinely are as people, and actions, as leaders, should match your words.

So, a cohesive culture creates united teams, and this undoubtedly equals business success. The outdoor clothing company, ‘Patagonia,’ is a great example of this.

Like a stick of rock, Patagonia’s company culture runs deep and throughout all aspects of their business. 

With a blend of environmental activism, flexible work-life balance, inclusivity, and purpose-driven leadership, its employees are empowered to be activists, supported with work-life integration, and committed to ethical practices.

Patagonia has created a workplace that not only attracts individuals passionate about sustainability but also keeps them engaged, fulfilled, and aligned with the company’s larger mission. 

It is truly a culture with a strong sense of ‘purpose that goes beyond profit’, where employees are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work and align with the company's mission of “saving our home planet”.

Patagonia’s culture leads by example, setting a standard for other companies to follow – in the outdoor industry and beyond.

At SANDBOX, we believe in the power of teamwork and fresh ideas to drive success, both for our clients and for us. Curious about how our culture shapes the way we work? Get in touch to learn more.