How to Improve Workplace Culture
(Backed by Behavioral Science)
Workplace culture is often spoken about but rarely understood in depth. It is not a poster on the wall or a set of corporate values. Instead, it is the sum of everyday actions, conversations, and habits that shape how people feel and work together. Building and maintaining this culture becomes a particular challenge when teams are spread across homes, cities, or time zones.
This guide offers practical, research-based approaches to strengthening workplace culture, especially for hybrid and remote teams. It invites you to consider culture as a living, breathing phenomenon shaped by small moments rather than grand gestures.
What Is Workplace Culture—and Why It’s So Hard to Shape
Culture is the invisible thread that connects people within an organization. It is created by repeated behaviors and shared understandings rather than formal declarations. Think of it as the social fabric woven through daily interactions, informal conversations, and the unspoken rules people follow.
Remote work changes this fabric. Without spontaneous hallway chats or coffee breaks, many of those informal moments disappear. The result is a culture that can feel fragile or even absent. Creating and sustaining culture at a distance requires deliberate attention to those subtle interactions.
Why Workplace Culture Matters: Its Effect on Engagement, Productivity, and Retention
Research confirms that a healthy workplace culture influences much more than employee happiness. Gallup’s studies show that organizations with engaged employees experience 21 percent higher profitability, 41 percent less absenteeism, and 59 percent lower turnover. State of the Global Workplace Report 2023
Harvard Business Review has noted that strong culture encourages innovation and improves decision-making. When culture weakens, disengagement grows, creativity slows, and employees are more likely to leave. The consequences are tangible and costly. The Culture of Innovation – HBR
Culture eats strategy for breakfast.
Peter Drucker
So where is the budget dedicated to culture?
Signs That Your Workplace Culture Needs Attention
Certain patterns hint that culture may be in trouble. Employees may seem disengaged, offering only minimal effort. Informal communication might dry up or feel awkward. Teams could become siloed, rarely collaborating beyond their own group. Recognition, when it happens, might feel forced or come solely from managers rather than peers. Rising burnout and stress also signal cultural strain.
These signs call for thoughtful action rather than quick fixes.
1. High Employee Turnover
Frequent departures signal dissatisfaction or disconnect between employees and the company. When people don’t feel valued or aligned with the culture, they often seek opportunities elsewhere.
2. Poor Communication
Lack of clear, open dialogue breeds misunderstandings and mistrust. If employees avoid sharing ideas or feedback, it often means the culture doesn’t support transparency.
3. Low Engagement and Motivation
When employees show minimal enthusiasm or commitment, it indicates the culture isn’t inspiring or rewarding their efforts. This can lead to decreased productivity and innovation.
4. Conflicts and Toxic Behaviors
Frequent disputes, gossip, or negativity reflect deeper cultural issues. A healthy culture fosters respect and collaboration, so persistent toxicity is a major red flag.
5. Resistance to Change
If employees are reluctant or fearful of new initiatives, it often means the culture is rigid or unsupportive of growth. Adaptability is key to long-term success, and a stuck culture hampers that.
Five Science-Backed Ways to Strengthen Workplace Culture
As Patti points out, it really is about keeping things simple which is sometimes easier said than done but here are five strategies grounded in behavioral science. They focus on building sustainable habits and genuine connection.
1. Encourage Informal Social Moments
Informal interactions, such as casual coffee chats or watercooler conversations, build trust and a sense of belonging. In remote settings, these moments do not happen spontaneously. Intentional scheduling of virtual coffee pairings or social time helps replicate the casual bonds that office workers often take for granted. (See our blog: This Simple Habit Brings Teams Closer: Coffee Pairing Chats)
2. Build Habits of Peer Recognition
Frequent, authentic peer-to-peer recognition supports morale more effectively than occasional praise from managers. Cultivating a culture where colleagues regularly acknowledge each other’s efforts fosters appreciation and strengthens relationships. (Learn more: Why Peer Recognition Outperforms Manager Praise)
3. Foster Cross-Team Collaboration to Break Silos
Cross-pollination between teams stimulates new ideas and improves problem-solving. Encouraging serendipitous meetings and joint projects helps break down barriers that might otherwise isolate departments. (Explore: How to Break Down Silos in Remote Teams)
4. Promote Psychological Safety and Open Communication
When employees feel safe to voice ideas, admit mistakes, and challenge assumptions, the organization benefits from greater learning and innovation. Creating this environment requires consistent leadership and openness at all levels. For more on this, see our post on Psychological Safety in the Workplace.
5. Use Nudges and Reminders to Sustain Change
Technology is no substitute for genuine human connection, but it can ease some of the challenges remote teams face. Automated reminders, simple peer recognition tools, and ways to facilitate informal interactions can help maintain culture without adding more meetings or oversight.
For those interested in exploring technology designed specifically for this purpose, tools exist to support culture-building efforts with minimal friction.
Dewdropz helps you implment small interactions directly inside Microsoft Teams automatically.
Additional Resources for Workplace Culture
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How to Build a Strong Hybrid Work Culture That Actually Works
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Our minds at work Developing the behavioural science of HR
Frequently Asked Questions About Workplace Culture
Can a small team improve culture without a dedicated HR department?
Absolutely. Culture thrives on consistent behaviors and shared values, which can be fostered by any team willing to prioritize connection and communication.
What is the easiest way to start improving culture?
Begin with small, intentional actions, like encouraging informal chats and recognizing peers regularly.
Does culture matter if everyone works remotely?
Yes. Remote teams require even more deliberate effort to build and maintain culture because the usual casual interactions are missing.
