When people talk about what makes a business successful, strategy and funding are usually the first things mentioned. But there is another factor, often less visible yet equally powerful: company culture.
The way people treat each other at work, the values they share, and the environment they operate in all contribute to a company’s identity. Get it right, and culture can drive productivity, innovation, and loyalty. Get it wrong, and poor company culture can quickly undermine organisational growth and employee morale. So, how can you build a great company culture in today’s world of hybrid, flexible working?
Understanding Company Culture
A simple company culture definition is this: it is the set of shared values, beliefs, and behaviours that shape how people work together. Culture shows up in how decisions are made, how problems are solved, and how success is celebrated.
There are many company culture types. Some organisations are highly collaborative and people-focused, while others are more structured and process-driven. Neither is inherently right or wrong – the key is alignment. Your culture should reflect your values and support your business goals, with 92% of executives stating that building a strong company culture is crucial for success.
Company culture examples can be seen everywhere. A start-up that thrives on creativity and risk-taking will have a very different culture from a law firm that prioritises a methodical or traditional approach. Both can be successful, provided the culture is consistent, authentic, and inclusive.
To summarise, a positive company culture is all about creating an environment where people feel motivated, supported, and inspired to do their best work.
Why Culture Matters
A healthy culture directly impacts your business performance. A positive, inclusive company culture motivates people, improves retention, attracts outstanding talent and results in 4x revenue growth. In 2024, 88% of employees stated that culture is key when choosing where to work. It also makes collaboration easier and enables the kind of creative thinking that leads to innovation.
Poor company culture, by contrast, damages morale. It creates silos, leads to high turnover, and discourages people from bringing their best selves and/or ideas to the table. For business owners and professionals who are often balancing growing teams with wider life responsibilities, getting culture right is essential in creating an environment where work is sustainable and rewarding.
The Role of Values in Shaping Culture
At the heart of every strong organisation are its company culture values. These values provide clarity about what matters most and will guide daily behaviours. They also serve as a reference point when challenges arise.
For example, a business that values openness will prioritise clear, effective communication. A company that prioritises innovation will give people room to experiment and try new ways of working. Without clear values, culture drifts and becomes inconsistent, leaving employees uncertain about what is ultimately expected of them.
Your Environment Influences Company Culture
Culture does not exist in isolation. The environment where people work, both physical and virtual, has a significant influence on how your work culture develops.
Coworking spaces, like those at Old Street WorkRooms, naturally encourage the exchange of ideas. When professionals from different backgrounds share space, those priceless connections and partnerships emerge. A tech entrepreneur might strike up a conversation with a project manager, leading to a new project neither could have achieved alone. This diversity is a powerful driver of creativity!
Alternatively, private offices offer teams focus and privacy while keeping them connected to a broader professional community. They are great for companies that want to cultivate their own culture without losing the exciting buzz and humdrum of a shared workplace.
For remote or hybrid teams, virtual offices provide consistency. They maintain a professional presence while giving employees the flexibility to work wherever they choose. For many businesses, this hybrid approach is a practical way to improve company culture without forcing everyone back into the office.
Diversity and Inclusion Are Culture Drivers
One of the strongest ways to improve company culture is to embrace diversity and build inclusion into your everyday practices. An inclusive company culture ensures people feel welcome, respected, and able to contribute fully.
Diverse teams are ordinarily more innovative because they approach problems from multiple angles and perspectives, challenging routine assumptions. This is routinely evident in coworking environments, where people from design, tech companies, consultancy, and finance often work side by side informally. These interactions create fresh thinking and new opportunities for new ways of working.
Inclusion is just as important. It is not enough to bring people together, but to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and able to contribute. Shared workspaces that prioritise community-building make this possible.
The challenge is how to change company culture, so inclusion is not just a statement but an everyday reality that all parties can champion. That means creating systems, rituals, and behaviours that make space for every voice.
Practical Steps for Building a Great Culture
Many leaders ask how to build a great company culture, but the answer is rarely about big gestures. It is about consistent, thoughtful action, time and time again, with several drivers that build trust along the way.
- Define your values clearly and make sure they are lived, not just written down. Communicate openly so everyone knows what the business stands for, what they are working towards and why it matters.
- Create rituals that bring people together, whether weekly check-ins, milestone celebrations, or shared learning sessions. These routines build connection and trust.
- Encourage collaboration by choosing spaces that support interaction. Coworking areas and flexible workspaces are excellent environments for casual conversations and knowledge sharing.
- Be intentional about inclusivity. Teams that draw on a range of backgrounds and experiences are more creative, more adaptable, and more capable of problem-solving.
- Accept that culture evolves. If you want to know how to change company culture, the answer lies in listening. Gather feedback, reflect on what is working (and what is not!) and adapt your practices as your team and business grow.
Work today is rarely confined to a single office or a rigid schedule. Teams that embrace hybrid models, coworking spaces, and even virtual offices are better placed to build resilient, attractive cultures.
Company Culture Examples in Action
Consider a start-up using a coworking space at Old Street WorkRooms. Its founders value collaboration and creativity, so they design their culture around open discussions and idea-sharing. Our environment supports these values, with opportunities to connect with other professionals and industries.
With this in mind, now compare this with a consultancy that values discretion and focus. They chose a private office in London to give their team privacy but still benefit from being part of a professional community. Their everyday work focuses more on precision, client service, and expertise.
Both of these company culture examples demonstrate the same principle: there is no single right culture. The key is alignment between values, environment, and behaviours.
How Old Street WorkRooms Supports Company Culture
The right space can make it easier to improve company culture. At Old Street WorkRooms, our various types of workspace solutions are designed to support your business at every stage.
Coworking and hotdesking spaces: join an exciting, diverse community where collaboration comes naturally.
Private offices: providing teams with a dedicated space for focus while keeping them connected to a wider network. Our meeting rooms also provide ample space for those important client meetings.
Virtual offices: ideal for startups and established businesses that need a cost-effective, professional presence and access to resources without being tied to a desk.
Each option helps businesses build environments that reflect their values and support the type of culture they want to grow.
The Bigger Picture
Company culture is at the very core of a successful business. It defines how people work together, how they feel about their roles, and how they contribute to your organisational growth. Understanding different company culture types, learning from company culture examples, and reflecting on your own company culture values are all key steps in building something strong.
For businesses looking at how to improve company culture, or even how to change company culture, the answer lies in aligning values, behaviours, and environments. It is also about creating an inclusive company culture that supports diversity, collaboration, and innovation.
At Old Street WorkRooms, coworking, private offices, and virtual office solutions make it possible to build a great company culture that inspires people and strengthens businesses. With the right environment, every organisation can create a culture that not only works today but evolves for the future.