Investing in Workplace Culture: The Power of Time

Sep 24

3 min read

In my previous article, I introduced the concept of the Cultural Microsphere and the four key investments every employee must make to positively influence their part of the work environment.

As we know, the progression of culture is a two-way street: the organization proactively making changes to enhance its business performance and to improve the employee experience; and the employees who whose investments in their cultural microsphere to maximize their relationships and take personal responsibility for their functional areas must be realized.

Let’s examine the first of these critical employee investments and this I consider to be the most valuable of the four—Time.

Why Time Matters in Workplace Culture

As I’ve defined before, Culture is "the way employees create, collaborate, and innovate to solve problems and produce business outcomes." It’s not simply a set of organizational values—it’s the cumulative experience that is shaped by individual human actions and behaviors across the company. In this sense, culture is dynamic, constantly evolving based on how employees invest in their own roles and interactions.

Time plays a crucial role in this process. It’s the resource that enables employees to fully engage with their environment, build meaningful relationships, and invest in their own growth.

Without enough time, the behaviors that shape a thriving culture can become superficial, and culture itself risks becoming stagnant.

So, let’s explore how this investment of Time drives the creation of a positive workplace culture.

In the context of workplace culture, investing time goes far beyond simply showing up for work or clocking hours. If time is a commodity, then it’s about deliberate, thoughtful engagement with your role, your colleagues, and the broader goals of the organization to ensure that time is well spent!

When employees invest time into fully understanding their responsibilities, constructively building relationships, and self-reflecting on their contributions, they help create a deeper, more connected and enriched culture.

Let’s break down what investing time really means:

1. Time to LEARN

Continuous Learning: Taking time to expand your knowledge, whether through formal training, reading industry news, or simply learning from colleagues, helps you grow both personally and professionally. A workplace culture that encourages learning empowers employees to innovate and improve continuously.

Understanding the Bigger Picture: It’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day tasks, but taking the time to understand how your work fits into the larger mission of the company creates a stronger connection between individual effort and organizational success.

2. Time to BUILD RELATIONSHIP

Strengthening Team Bonds: Strong workplace culture is built on the relationships employees form with one another. Investing time in building these connections—whether through collaboration, feedback, or informal interactions—leads to better communication, trust, and collaboration.

Cross-Departmental Interactions: Relationships aren’t limited to your immediate team. Taking time to engage with other departments creates a sense of unity across the organization, helping break down silos and encouraging a culture of cooperation.

3. Time to REFLECT

Self-Reflection: Taking time to reflect on your role, your goals, and your performance is crucial for personal growth. Self-reflection helps employees identify areas for improvement and recognize their contributions to the company’s culture.

Feedback Integration: Reflection also means taking the time to understand and act on feedback from managers and colleagues. This willingness to pause and adjust is a hallmark of a strong, growth-oriented culture.

4. Time to GROW

Patience for Cultural Change: Culture doesn’t change overnight. It takes sustained effort over time. Those who are willing to invest time in fostering and nurturing their cultural microsphere will see the greatest results in the long run. This is why patience, and a long-term vision are essential when building a high-performing team culture.

Ultimately, time is the resource that empowers employees to create, collaborate, and innovate in meaningful ways.

Conclusion: Time Is the Very Foundation of the Employee’s Cultural Microsphere

By investing in learning, relationships, reflection, and long-term growth, employees can take ownership of their cultural microsphere and contribute to a thriving, dynamic workplace culture.

The next time you consider the culture around you, either as an employee or an HR professional, ask yourself: How are you investing your time?

Thanks for reading!

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Image adapted from a photo by Andrea Piacquadio.

Posted: 25 September 2024