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Culture surrounds us. It shapes what we experience through all five senses: the smells of our childhood home, the music that uplifts us, the way we greet loved ones. It influences our dress, communication style, humour, and storytelling. Culture is a blend of nature and nurture, present from waking to sleep, and it's at the heart of how we connect.
Defined as “a concept that encompasses the social behaviour, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups,” culture is easier to experience than to explain. We all feel the influence of the values, beliefs, and habits of the communities we grew up in, but explaining them can be challenging. Instead, think of culture as the way you shared food with your family, the mandatory Sunday morning call with your mom, the song that gets everyone dancing at a wedding, or the inside jokes that make you laugh with your best friends. Culture is a feeling, not just a definition.
Shared experiences shape our world view
Our experiences with those around us build the lens through which we see the world. Values, morals, and beliefs are shaped by the people we spend time with. For most of us, our formative years are heavily influenced by parents, siblings, friends, and teachers. These people play a major role in shaping our "habits, beliefs, and customs."
The graph below, from Our World In Data, shows who we spend the most time with throughout life. From the sheer time we spend with them, it's clear that family, friends, and partners have a significant impact on lives. But, also take note of the amount of time we are spending with our colleagues at the workplace compared to the people in our lives who bring us joy.
Graph mapping who you spend your time with
Measured in minutes per day based on averages between 2009 and 2019.
From this we can see just much of our life will be spent with our coworkers, and as a result just how important it is that you enjoy who you work with and the culture of the company that you work for.
The time we spend in the workplace significantly impacts how our personal culture interacts with others, and ultimately, our happiness. Ideally, we want to work in an environment that reflects the values, morals, and work styles we've developed throughout our lives. Happiness shouldn't stop when we step through the office door.
The intricacies of company culture
It is difficult to put your finger on what a life in corporate feels like. Picking a couple buzz-words to describe culture is not how we wanted to do it. We spent months introspecting, researching, formulating, and reformulating until we came across five concepts that we felt encapsulated the essence of company culture.
The corporate ladder or the rocketship to success. Motivated by money or motivated by learning. Focussed on output or focussed on process. A new era or the old guard. Contributing to the goal or learning from the best. Organisational type, value, work style, corporate mindset, and collaboration. Varying degrees in between. It is these important questions that we found ourselves coming back to all the time. We found that the important differences between companies lay within these questions and how they can permeate. These questions permeate within you too, and so the relationship between the firm and the employee.
Your dreams, your ambitions, your hard work. All the hours you put in are finally paying off. When you have been rewarded with the opportunity to work everywhere, don’t just choose anywhere. Don’t fall at the last hurdle. Do your research on company culture. Find a place that makes you happy.
Deciding where to complete your SAICA Articles
When deciding where to complete your SAICA articles there are a lot of factors to consider. What type of work do you want to do? Where do you want to be based? What is your long term career goals? But, few people give adequate attention to the culture of the firm they'd like to work for.
We believe the company culture of the firm you work for should form a major part of your decision. We've built out a free assessment to teach you some more about your preferred company culture. Invest 5 minutes and set yourself up for success.
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