Over the past two articles in CRUX Workplace's Workplace Culture series, I've explored What’s Keeping Talent Engaged and How Leaders Are Building a Positive Workplace Culture. In this final installment, we shift our focus to employees and the impact they have on shaping workplace culture.
Employees are instrumental in defining and fostering workplace culture, often citing it as a key reason they choose to stay with an organization. But what steps are culture-minded employees taking to actively cultivate and strengthen a positive work environment?
The professionals we spoke to influence their workplace culture naturally and intentionally in their daily actions, choices, and interactions, contributing to an environment where collaboration, innovation, and connection can flourish.
Here’s how employees are making an impact:
Creating Intentional In-Person Interactions
Culture-minded employees infuse connections into their office days with a focus on relationship-building, brainstorming sessions, and spontaneous collaboration. Many of the professionals we spoke to were holding time in the office for face-to-face interactions by scheduling designated time blocks without virtual calls. This approach ensured that when employees were in the office, they can be fully present for connections with their team or cross-functional interactions.
Instead of becoming siloed within their teams, the professionals we spoke to were reaching across departments to share knowledge and solve problems together. Many of these connections began in shared spaces like cafeterias and coffee points, where impromptu conversations led to unexpected ideas, solutions, and friendships. Thoughtful workplace strategy—ensuring meaningful adjacencies for cross-functional teams with overlapping or shared spaces—can support these interactions. This cross-functional mindset fosters stronger relationships and a more interconnected workplace.
Organizing Social Events and Collaboration
We heard employees take a nostalgic tone as they spoke about social interactions and events of the past. Bringing the "fun" back to work was shared as a top desire for many employees. The professionals we spoke to were contributing to campus-wide events, team celebrations, and informal get-togethers, making space in their schedules for connection. While some took the initiative to organize their own events to recognize team milestones, others made an impact by participating in company-wide gatherings—even if just for a quick stop to show support. These moments of celebration and collaboration strengthen camaraderie and enhance workplace culture.
Celebration is collaboration with its party hat on—the most successful teams embrace collaboration as a core value. Even in teams that did not have shared projects, employees found ways to connect and collaborate on shared issues and processes. These connected teams prioritized peer reviews, whiteboarding sessions, and open dialogue to drive innovation and problem-solving. By creating an environment where ideas can be shared, celebrated, and refined collectively, employees contribute to a workplace culture that values creativity and continuous improvement.
Mentoring and Insight-Sharing
Mentor relationships are inspiring and educational for both the mentee and the mentor. The professionals we spoke to expressed a strong desire to support their new teammates by sharing expertise, offering guidance, and creating opportunities for skill development—sustaining a culture of growth and support within the organization. Learning from employee insights in this way fosters continued success and enhances the capabilities of each role.
Employees hold a wealth of knowledge about their roles, the organization, and the spaces and equipment necessary to optimize their output. Employee engagement serves as a powerful lens into an organization's culture. By contributing to opportunities for sharing employee insights and team best practices—whether through mentorship or employee listening exercises—these professionals help their companies shape a culture that builds on what already works while integrating new, intentional practices.
Empowering Employees to Shape Workplace Culture
Workplace culture isn’t solely shaped by leadership— it’s reinforced daily by employees who bring it to life. When employees actively foster collaboration, build relationships, and create moments of connection, they cultivate a workplace that is engaging, inclusive, and innovative. By prioritizing in-person interactions, cross-functional collaboration, and mentorship, employees strengthen a culture that supports both individual and team success. As organizations evolve, recognizing and amplifying these employee-driven contributions will be key to maintaining a thriving, resilient culture.
Enhancing workplace culture requires a strategic approach that aligns employee behaviors with organizational goals. Workplace consultants help organizations gain deeper insights by assessing engagement patterns, collaboration dynamics, and space utilization. By leveraging employee feedback and best practices, they design and optimize environments that foster collaboration, organic interactions, and meaningful connections. Whether through reimagining office layouts, creating flexible workspaces, or implementing engagement tools, consultants ensure the physical space actively supports and strengthens company culture.
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