This is part of a series of articles on Social Excellence in the workplace called “The Relationship Business Series.” Because after all, we’re all in the relationship business. For more helpful content like this, sign up for (free) The 21 Days of Social Excellence.

by Matt Mattson

Workplace culture is not a fixed and permanent reality. You don't write a mission statement or a set of workplace values and then you're done.

Culture is an ever evolving organism. It is alive. It can become malnourished or it can flourish. You have to feed it.

Workplace culture will thrive if you feed it these three things constantly.

1) Acknowledge the Full Humanity of Your People: Every individual in the workplace brings a unique set of experiences, perspectives, and aspirations. And they also bring a whole bunch of difficult real-life stuff with them every day. Kids, elder care, money troubles, family drama, mental health challenges, things they only tell their therapist, etc. To cultivate a culture that thrives, we must recognize and honor the full, complicated, messy humanity of our people. Always see your colleagues up close. Wonder about their challengs. Celebrate their real-life wins with them. Give them grace and forgiveness because they're wildly complicated and almost certainly trying their best.

2) Connection First, Production Second: In the pursuit of productivity and results, it's easy to overlook the importance of human connection. It sounds like one of those "soft skills" you heard about at a seminar one time. But a culture that prioritizes connection over production recognizes that true success is built on strong relationships and a sense of belonging. People don't care about their job until their job cares about them. This is why we believe so deeply in Social Excellence as a cultural centerpiece for businesses and organizations. By fostering genuine connections among team members, we create an environment where trust, empathy, and collaboration can flourish. When individuals feel valued and supported, they are more likely to support your cause and add value to the company.

3) Non-Negotiable “People Like us” Prompt: Do your people know how to finish this sentence? “People like us… people who work here… we always ________ and we never ________.” I’m convinced that too many organizations haven’t clearly defined WHO they are. I don’t mean the boring page on your website that nobody ever visits. Or the Successories frame with your special values you have hanging on the walls. I mean a passionate answer to the “People Like Us Do Things Like This” prompt. A thriving culture is built upon shared values and commitments that are non-negotiable. By clearly providing an answer to this prompt, and upholding these shared commitments, accountability and productivity become a lot more likely.

Create the culture you crave.

If you want to work in a place that is the kind of place you want to work, then you have to work to create that kind of place (did that sentence make sense?).

Nurturing a flourishing workplace culture requires ongoing effort and intentional actions. You have to feed it.

Remember, culture is not a one-time endeavor. It is a continuous process of feeding and nurturing. By acknowledging the full humanity of our people, prioritizing connection over production, and establishing shared non-negotiable commitments, we can cultivate a workplace culture that drives results, retention, and a rewarding home away from home for people.

Culture. Feed it.