'It's all about the culture Daryl, it's full of culture.''
“Chockers, Dad.”

Apologies for referencing The Castle* so many years after the film came out, (between you and me, I think I'll reference it forever), but while we're talking 'culture', and the meaningless ways in which the term gets used, this quote sets the tone just right.

What is culture? What do we mean by ‘workplace culture'? How do make sure it's ‘good' and what does ‘good' culture actually mean?

The term 'workplace culture' is bandied about like a worn pair of Dunlop Volleys, but rarely is the concept done justice by being defined and explored in detail. This is something we're going to spend more time on, and we invite you to join in.

Do you have an idea of what ‘good workplace culture' is? Does your workplace fit into that idea? Have you experienced a change from bad to good – or vice versa – and do you want to share what happened? We're keen to hear your thoughts.

Watch this space:

The next section of the RTW Matters Handbook – which is having the final touches put to it before publication – has a chapter titled ‘Cultural Revolution: Optimising Workplace Culture for Injury Management and RTW'. It's a bounty bursting with information and covers topics like ‘Transforming an unhealthy culture', ‘Workplace culture and injury management: “give and take” models', and ‘The six key elements of best practice RTW culture', as well as diagnostic tools to assess how healthy your workplace's culture is.

Resources:

Here are some other resources to set the workplace culture thought-ball rolling:

'Top 1 Ways to Create a Better Workplace' (This site doesn't feature a quote from The Castle, but it does have this little gem: ‘The forest shapes the tree.' Too true, too true. 

Codelines is a software site, but this page addresses the question ‘What is Workplace Culture and What Does it Mean?' 

Now you might think trying to narrow the population into five categories is a bit of a stretch, but at the very least this little quiz should get you thinking about your workplace.

And if you're looking for some holiday reading…(If anyone's read any of these books, or would like to recommend others that relates to workplace culture, let us know!)

Lessons Learned: Shaping Relationships and the Culture of the Workplace, Roland Barth, Corwin Press, 2003. "A practical and delightfully conversational guide to cultivating and fortifying working relationships."

Leading with Soul: an Uncommon Journey of Spirit, Lee Bolman, Jossey-Bass Press, 2001. "A contemporary parable chronicling the journey of a beleaguered executive's quest for passion and purpose in work and in life."

Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It, Jody Thompson, Portfolio Publishers, 2008. “Why most workplaces are so dysfunctional and offer a dramatic new way to stop the toxic behaviours and beliefs that often limit workers' potential.”

*Double apologies to our growing number of international readers who may not get the reference to 'The Castle' – if you haven't heard of this film please find it and have a look. It's gold, and a frighteningly accurate (and funny) representation of the Australian culture we like to think we have. There's that word again.